As new music genres gain popularity, they are often recognized with their own genre-specific Billboard charts. Over the years, disco and reggae are among the musical genres that have received their own accountants. An old musical genre is going viral on TikTok, starting with the post of Nathan Evans, from Scotland, from the 19th century slum “Wellerman” during the last week of December 2020. This inspired other TikTokers to post their own song videos working conditions of these sailors. But does that mean that there will soon be a Sea Shanties chart?
Maybe not. Only one song considered a sea slum was a big hit on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1966, the Beach Boys sailed to third place with “Sloop John B”, a song that dates back to 1916, when it was originally known as “The John B. Sails ”. The Kingston Trio recorded as “The Wreck of the John B.” in 1958. Al Jardine of the Beach Boys loved folk music and during the sessions of the group’s album “Pet Sounds”, he played the song for Brian Wilson, whose reaction was not to be a fan of the Kingston Trio. Then Jardine played the song on the piano again, giving the feeling of Beach Boys. Within 24 hours, the song was recorded, with some changes to Wilson’s lyrics. “Sloop John B” was the most successful single from “Pet Sounds”.
Even though “Sloop John B” is the only sea slum to be a hit on the charts, many other artists have turned to the revered genre. Folk artists other than the Kingston Trio recorded sea slums, including Pete Seeger, Odetta and Burl Ives. Ives recorded an entire album of sea slums, “Down to the Sea in Ships”. The 18-track LP included titles like “Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor” and “The Sailor’s Grave”. In 2006, Bruce Springsteen recorded an album of Seeger’s songs, “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions”, and included two of Seeger’s slums, “Pay Me My Money Down” and “Shenandoah”. The album reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
British folk singer Ewan MacColl (writer of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”) included many sea slums in his repertoire, and the Sex Pistols took the 19th century ode “Friggin ‘in the Riggin'” to the third place on the UK singles chart in 1979. Many artists with Irish roots have turned to the genre, including the Pogues, Clancy Brothers, Dubliners and Irish Rovers.
During the filming of the 2006 release “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”, actor Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski, in collaboration with producer Hal Willner, assembled the album “Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys” with recordings by artists like Sting, Bono and Bryan Ferry. A sequel, “Son of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys” was released in 2013, which included tracks by artists such as Marianne Faithfull, Tom Waits and Dr. John.
The viral world of TikTok videos changes rapidly, so it is difficult to know how long sea shacks will be popular. But, for now, it’s up to the sea on ships with this very old musical form.