Introduction to the What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor Lyrics: History, Origin and Background
The traditional sea shanty “What Do We Do With a Drunken Sailor” has been around for centuries and is one of the most popular songs among sailors and seafarers. The origins of the song are not known, but it dates back to at least the 18th century.
The song is believed to have derived from an ancient English sea shanty, written by Jack Nastyface as early as 1720 in A Little Contemplative Poem Upon Tippling. Nastyface’s lyrics were slightly modified by other authors over time before becoming what we know them as today.
The song is reminiscent of sailing ships, long voyages and life at sea far away from home ports and loved ones. It was most likely sung while doing menial labour on-board ship such as scrubbing decks, raising sails, mending rigging or hauling lines—known as “drudge work” by sailors who knew these repetitive tasks all-too-well. The music was both a distraction from the boredom as well as a way for the crew to keep rhythm with each others movements during their tedious chores.
The lyrics describe what should be done with a “drunken sailor”–likely someone who spent more time partying than working aboard ship! In addition to being incredibly catchy and definitely appropriate for singing loudly in unison along the decks of wooden ships at sea, it also serves an allegorical purpose in illustrating how each member of a crew would band together while tackling difficult tasks—in this case addressing an unreliable sailor. Each line suggests a different (and often comical) action that can be taken to get him back on task: First hoist him aloft, then put him in irons, lock him up beneath deck until he sobers up or flush him down and pump him dry—all clearly dramatized methods meant to provide motivation that only getting back to work will release!
Today, what started out as traditional folk music is beloved by young and old across continents alike—a reminder of our shared maritime history still traveling through ocean waves today!
Step by Step Guide to Understanding the Meaning of the What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor Lyrics
1. What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor? is a popular sea shanty that has been performed for centuries by sailors. The lyrics have been changed and adapted over the years, but the fundamental verse remains largely the same. This song was traditionally sung while performing tasks on board a ship, such as hoisting sails or coiling ropes, to keep up the spirits of the crew and make the repetitive work less tedious.
2. In this step-by-step guide we will explore the various lines of this classic sea shanty and understand what they mean in modern contexts. To begin with, let’s consider the opening stanza: “What do we do with a drunken sailor? What do we do with a drunken sailor? What do we do with a drunken sailor early in the mornin’?” This line refers to how sailors would often be sent ashore due to excessive drinking, which could put other crew members at risk if they were unable to perform their duties properly while intoxicated. Therefore, these four lines reflect how one should handle situations when someone cannot be trusted due to intoxication: manage them safely away from potential danger (e.g., send them ashore) and provide necessary support until they can once again be entrusted with duties aboard ship (i.e., early in the mornin’).
3. The next lines refer to hauling people up into safety: “Haul em down below me boys, Haul em down below me boys HaU’em down below me boys early in da morning.” These lines are about physical handling when it comes to taking care of any person who is too drunk or misbehaving; no matter how big or strong they may appear you should use caution and take proper measures like bringing another person along since two people together will be stronger than just one when dealing with such an individual — particularly during inclement weather or tumultuous seas! Again this reflects how gaining control over such situations must happen quickly before any harm can come to anyone else onboard (i.e., early on in da morning).
4 Lastly, let’s consider what typically happens once someone does arrive back on dry land after being forced off of a ship due to intoxication: “Put him in irons my boys Put him in irons my boys Put him in irons my boy Early in da mornin’.’ Here ‘putting someone into irons’ simply means detaining them against their will via handcuffs or comparable restraints as punishment for their reckless behavior; as such it should also serve as an effective deterrent against repeating these actions any time soon! However, even despite this means of containment it is important that preventative measures still be taken (again ‘early’) so that similar events don’t occur again too soon — hence why ‘early’ appears several times throughout this famous sea shanty!
Frequently Asked Questions about the What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor Lyrics
Q: What is the origin of the song “What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor?”
A: “What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor?” is a traditional sea shanty originating in Britain, likely sometime in the early 19th century. It was used by sailors to keep time while performing various tasks aboard ship, such as hoisting sail or hauling anchor. The melody and phrasing of this shanty is roughly similar to other sea songs from the era, and it shows inspiration from both English and African American music traditions.
Q: Who wrote “What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor?”
A: As an old folk song, “What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor?” did not have one definitive author. Instead, it evolved over time and has been adapted by different people in different versions. One version appears in Percy’s Reliques in 1702, though without any lyrics attached. The most popular version today comes from Frank Luther’s collection of sailor songs, Our Navy of Today (1921), which contains many verses typical of earlier renditions.
Q: What are the lyrics to “What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor?”
A1: Here are some choruses from widely known versions:
Chorus 1 What shall we do with a drunken sailor? / What shall we do with a drunken sailor? / What shall we do with a drunken sailor earley in the morning? / Way-hay-up she rises! Heave her for’ard into Davey!
Chorus 2 Put him in a longboat till he’s sober / Put him ’em on board until he’s sober / Put him in irons ’till he’s sober; early In t’morning! Way-hay-up she rises! Heave her for’ard into Davey!
Verse Let him see the captain ashore me hearties! Let him see the captain ashore me hearties!/ Let him see the captain ashore me hearties Early In t’morning!/ Way-hay-up she rises Heave her for’ard into Davey
Top 5 Facts You Should Know About the What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor Lyrics
The song “What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor” is an old sea shanty associated with the Royal Navy of England. It was first sung in the 1760’s, and is one of the most popular sea shanties ever composed. Here are five interesting facts about this classic seafaring tune:
Fact One: The composer of the song is unknown. Over time, this catchy melody has been adapted by many different musicians, but its original author remains a mystery.
Fact Two: The lyrics often vary from one version to another. In some versions, such as the one recorded by Pete Seeger in 1963, include humorous variations on a sailor’s misadventures when coming back from drinking.
Fact Three: Many regional versions exist for this song, known as chanteys or “work songs”—also known as “halyards”—that are used to synchronize group activities aboard ships while they raise and furl sails or perform other duties at sea.
Fact Four: Some scholars argue that “Drunken Sailor” reflects an era in which sailors had access to alcohol onboard naval vessels and where inebriation was viewed not only as necessary entertainment within strict military regulations, but also through a lens of respectability given the original verse’s context involving attending church services on Sunday morning following carousing on Saturday night.
Fact Five: This song became popular worldwide due to its frequent inclusion on various soundtracks including Hollywood films like Pirates of the Caribbean and masterful recreations by renowned traditional folk singers like Burl Ives and Josh White Jr., among others.
Traditional Variations and Regional Adaptations of the What Do We Do with a Drunken Sailor Lyrics
What do we do with a drunken sailor? is an old traditional sea shanty, which has been adapted throughout the centuries to suit various local areas. This folk song has become popular in many countries around the world, due to its catchy melody and exciting story line.
The classic version of this shanty is generally agreed to have originated in Britain in the early 1800s, although some variations may have existed before then. The lyrics tell of a party atmosphere onboard a ship as sailors get drunk, dance and sing together while they wait out a storm at sea. In most versions, every stanza ends with instructions from the captain on how to deal with the drunken sailor – either by ‘dousing’ him with seawater or placing him in confinement for being disorderly.
The tune and words soon spread across oceans and cultures, however it was not until later that certain expressions were modified and added according to regional accents. For instance, Irish sailors would use words like ‘bobachi’ or ‘damsect’ instead of modern English metaphors; American versions often included references to whiskey or corn liquor; Canadians used quite distinct rollicking rhythms that paid homage to their exposure French culture; Caribbean languages often replaced some words with their native dialects; Jamaican-accented versions sometimes changed entire verses. Even today some countries still feature subtle differences in their versions of the melodic tune such as subtle adjustments in key sequences depending on local preferences – such as playing them a fifth lower as found in New England variants.
With each generation of famous sailing vessels setting sail into different ports around the world came new variations of this much beloved maritime tale – making What Do We Do With A Drunken Sailor one of those special pieces which have firmly ingrained itself into many cultures around the globe!
Final Thoughts on Exploring The Origins and Meaning of the What Do We do With A Drunken Sailor Lyrics
The origins and meaning of “What Do We Do With a Drunken Sailor?” are deeply intertwined with the history of seafaring life. Throughout the past several centuries, the phrase has been used to serve various functions within both nautical and civilian contexts. In its nautical form, the phrase originated as a drinking song sung by sailors to while away leisure time on board their vessels – whether in celebration or evasion of work duties. The words offer an undeniable gaiety in their lighthearted description of dealing with a comically incapacitated shipmate, but they also refer to potentially serious consequences that could befall someone due to intoxication while at sea.
Beyond the realm of naval culture itself, “What Do We Do With a Drunken Sailor?” is widely recognized as an example of traditional folk music. Popular versions of the song have left their mark on people from all walks of life – influencing further generations and finding modern incarnation in bluegrass performances and even animated films! For these reasons,further exploration into its history reveals more than just an innocuous tune: It also tells us something about ourselves as individuals and as members within our societies, reminding us that we all share commonalities across distance and time.
