Lighter,

Also, I don't recall if anyone has commented on Dana's remark that his "songs for capstan and falls" have "a chorus at the end of each line." It would be unrealistic to assume that he meant that was true in all cases, but I think we can assume that he meant it was most usually the case. That suggests to me a rather primitive shanty style, with one improvised line and a short repeating chorus (like "Haul Away, Joe!" or "Haul on the Bowline!"), rather than the more elaborate four-line rhyming stanza that we think of as the "classic" shanty form. "Round the Corner, Sally!" fits the earlier form. If that's what Dana meant, and the more elaborate form was still rare, it's a further suggestion that shantying was still in a formative stage in 1835.

That is was I was also expressing in my 01 Mar 10 - 06:07 PM post. Glad to see it's not just me who gets that sense from the description.

However, I am not sure about "Round the Corner." As it is known now, it is in fact in the "classic" shanty form as I see it. I am open to the idea, however, that it may have been performed differently in those times (e.g. with just one pull, on "SALly"). One could see it fit into either style. Too bad we don't have any lyrics to give more clues.