The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126347 Message #2814011
Posted By: Lighter
16-Jan-10 - 08:45 PM
Thread Name: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
Sea-song aficionados should be advised that "The Gallant Ship is Under Weigh" wasn't so much a sea song as a Mormon missionary hymn, written by W. W. Phelps before 1845.
As for the shanties, with so many passengers aboard, especially of a strongly religious bent, it is almost certain that the words sung were as inoffensive as the sailors could make them.