In deconstructing the line through this gloss of the term blow, the collective strength of the sailors would be singing out and pushing/pulling while simulating the force of collectively knocking someone down; namely, this nameless “man.” The collective violence of this reading is interesting; for, it further underscores and supports the popular contemporary construction of the sailor as rough, ready, and prone to altercations.

Context: Global Maritime History are pleased to announce the conference programme for the Maritime Toxic Masculinity Digital Conference.

More of the same in: Piratical Debauchery, Homesick Sailors, and Nautical Rhythms: The Influence of Sea Shanties on Classical Music, Riedler, P., & Bhogal, G. K. (2017)(Wellesly)

The above are not global maritime history or hard naval science. It's how Euro-American poets, authors & academics have imagined their imaginary sailors down through the years. Reidler, Floyd et al are micro-analyzing their own pop culture fictions, fetishes & fantasies.

I've yet to meet the arts graduate holding forth on work song what can also use the word celeusma in a sentence. Though, exactly one (1) odd soul could define proceleusmatic but had never really considered whence it came.

PS: Africa was... and remains... a continent.