LONG BEACH INVITATIONAL REGATTA
Sea Shanties
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Sea shanties (singular
"shanty", also spelled "chantey" from the French word "chanter",
meaning to sing) were shipboard working songs. Some speculate that
shanties may have been sung as early as the 15th century though there
is little evidence to support this claim. The shanties that survived to
be collected and preserved date from the 19th century through the days
of steam ships in the first half of the 20th century.
In the days when human muscles were the only power source available aboard ship, sea shanties served a practical purpose: the rhythm of the song served to synchronize the movements of the sailors as they toiled at repetitive tasks. They also served a social purpose: singing and listening to songs is pleasant; it alleviates boredom and lightens the burden of hard work, of which there was no shortage on long voyages in those days. A new event for 2009 was for each Ship or team to write and present a sea song. Their efforts were so, uh, interesting that we just had to share them. Here, in alphabetical order, are their creations. Enjoy! |
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Calypso
This…is…our
Sea Scout song It's not too long HEY! |
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 Del
Mar We are the Del Mar Our history stretches far We sail the open seas Farther than the eye can see. We are not just a team But more like a family Teamwork and efficiency is our theme Our ability to work together is exemplary! There are many ships that sail the seas Our Ship is not like these There is only one Del Mar And
we are far better
than par! > |
Sailing life can be hard With chicken on a raft every morn A home-cooked meal can't be bard Over the food we always mourn. With watches in the middle of night Memories of our women fill us with delight. Their unscrupulous activities make us shake with fright- All because we are on watch in the middle of the night! We finally walk ashore Over our shoulders we hold our oars No one greets us here Except for the local tavern and an ice-cold root beer. In the morning we set sail For a far-off distant port Never stop even for a report Because
we are always
at sea like the Great Blue Whale! We are the Del Mar Our history stretches far We are far better than par Because
we are the
Del Mar! |
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Islander We are a band of brothers On ocean, lake or sea. We stand united as shipmates Through faith and loyalty. And if we're ever needed The cry goes near and far Hasaw for the bonnie blue flag That bears the single star. Haraw, hasaw for the islander Hasaw haraw for the bonnie blue flag That
bears the single
star! |
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 Mariner (Sea
Chanty-Bob
Dylan style) Brownies, delicious brownies This
food brings me
out of my downies But the hard part is That I can't find my fizz Sweet coca-cola blues The
sea has so many
hues. > |
Chorus: Three lights in front of me, but I don't know what they mean. If I can just avoid the nets of the trawlin' machine, So I'll be singin' instead of sinkin' in the sea. I've been sleepin' in my bunk and it's been causin' me a funk. I've gotta crick in my spine, But I don't wanna whine "Cause if they know how I feel They'll drag me across the keel! Chorus: Three lights in front of me, but I don't know what they mean. If I can just avoid the nets of the trawlin' machine, So
I'll be singin'
instead of sinkin' in the sea. If not for the line in my hand I don't know if I'd ever make it back to land So I'll be singin' instead of sinkin' in the sea So I'll be singin' instead of sinkin' in the sea So I'll be singin' instead of sinkin' in the sea! |
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Morning
Star Long Beach, it never gets boring The longer you stay, the better it gets. Some day I think I shall leave here But something keeps telling me "Don't do it yet!" Not yet, not yet. |
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 Mystic
Yankee
Team 1 I'm a hardcore Sea Scout Racing down to Long Beach Trying hard to touch the leech Partying with our fleet > |
Running to raise our sail Trying hard not to fail Wearing our red and black Knowing
that we're
coming back! We have one short day And fifteen events To be the best That we can be! |
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Mystic
Yankee
Team 2 Look at this place Isn't it neat? Wouldn't you say our Regatta's complete? Wouldn't you say we're the girls The girls who love everyone? Paddling with hands you don't get very far Oars are required for going faster Strolling along down a… What's that word again? Dock Down where they sail Down
where they row > |
 Down where they use all that they know Kayaking free Sailing the sea Mystic Yankee! |
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Renegades Oh, lord, it's hard to be a pirate When we're legal in every way Can't wait to look in the water I get better looking each watch. To know me is to be brave We're greedy in every way Oh lord, it's hard to be a pirate But that's why we're the Renegades! |
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Triton I like big boats and I cannot lie You other crews can't deny When a ship sails in with an itty-bitty mast And a big boom in your face IT
IS TRITON! |
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Windjammer The sun will always shine The wind will always blow And on the sea it's always Windjammer! With our Bos'n by our side We'll always pull through Do-do-do-do-always Windjammer! |
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Disclaimer: These songs
were transcribed from each Ships' notes. They were not written under
the best of conditions (ie: written in pencil on scratch paper between
events, sometimes on a rough surface), so some of the lyrics were a
little hard to decipher.
Also, the performed versions were not necessarily the whole song as written on the paper; nevertheless, they were all so good we didn't want to leave anything out. If we got any of the lyrics wrong, let us know and we will correct them. |