Chinese sang sea shanties

A sea shanty or chanty is a work song.

In the same way Chinese coolies had work songs and the way the African slaves of the south had work songs, so too did the sailors and whaling men and dockhands of the era.

Whilst aboard a sampan in China I heard a woman who piloted the boats sing a shanty in Chinese in rhythm with the work of sculling the vessel.

There is a large amount of History available about Sea Shanties or as some call them Sea Chantys.

Check out the website www.SailorSongs.com


If you want to get a feel for what life was like aboard a sailing vessel back in the day read the lyrics at www.SailorSongs.com