Dear Jeep ManGet hold of Stan Hugill's "Shanties Of The Seven Seas" if you can. That will more than answer your question.
Incidentally, as well as co-ordinating the crew into pulling together, the shanty also provided them with a bit of much needed light relief. The shantyman would make up verses which among other things would take the p**s out of the "afterguard" (The skipper and officers)