The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #66250   Message #1098010
Posted By: GUEST
21-Jan-04 - 01:16 PM
Thread Name: Sea shanties & things
Subject: RE: Folklore: Sea shanties & things
Stan Hugill says that sailors on naval ships were often nicknamed "Johnny Haul Taut". Simply because they were not allowed to talk whilst working?

As it has been mentioned before, the work setting sail, raising the anchor etc., was done to the rhythm of drums and fifes played by the marines, or a lone fiddler perhaps?