There has been an explosion in the popularity of sea chanties thanks to various forms of media, and sea chanty groups couldn’t be happier.
The chanty, or shanty (depending on who you ask), is a unique oral tradition and considered a subsection of folk music. They started as work songs aboard sailing ships in the 19th century when the days were rough and lonely; singing helped the crew stay in time as they hauled the anchor or adjusted the sails. And sometimes they were simply songs of sorrow or joy, meant to pass the time or bring some ribald laughter to the local pub.
On the second Friday of every month there is a devoted group of singers and nautical enthusiasts who gather at Lake Union Park in Seattle to share the songs of sailors old and new. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate, plus the event is always free.
Singing sea chanties with this group is not only a rousing good time, but it also comes with some fascinating history lessons and a healthy dose of maritime definitions, like a foc’sle is the forward part of the deck where the crew slept.
Wayne Palsson, one of the current leaders of the Northwest Seaport Chantey Sing, says it’s no surprise to find such an interest in this type of music here, “Seattle has always been a folksy kind of town,” he said.
Plus, there is a rich history of local maritime trades and workers; Puget Sound still very much thrives on water-based transportation and the maritime industry. Palsson also credits The Northwest Folklife Festival, where he produces the maritime portion, for helping to preserve and promote maritime music in the area.
The simplicity of the songs and the catchy rhythms make them naturally suited for a sing-along. Using a call-and-response format, they are also easy for any type of singing ability to join in or lead. One only needs to begin a couple lines in a verse before the entire crowd erupts to enthusiastically recite the chorus.
Palsson & Jean Geiger, the other leader of the group, and Palsson’s wife, took the helm of these monthly gatherings back in 2008 during a rather turbulent time for the group. As Palsson recalls, the event almost disbanded when they lost their original venue, the decaying historic fishing vessel Wawona.
“The program kinda flowed with the fate of the Wawona…we couldn’t use it anymore after it became too hazardous. That was a big blow. We started meeting in the adjacent woodshop…but we had really low participation. As the Wawona was tragically broken up in 2008. We also lost the woodshop in 2008 as the new park was developed,” said Palsson.
As it turned out, the solution was literally floating right next door. “The Virginia V Foundation’s directors at the time really wanted it to be used as a music venue and make its rafters ring,” says Wayne.
The steamship Virginia V, which celebrated its 100 birthday this year, was a part of the “Mosquito Fleet” that ferried passengers and freight between Seattle and Tacoma (https://www.virginiav.org/ship/history/).
Now it is a National Historic Landmark and a local treasure that is available for rent. It sits on the wharf alongside other famous ships such as the Arthur Foss (1889), which may be the oldest floating wooden tugboat in the world, and the halibut schooner, Tordenskjold (1911).
While COVID-19 forced the singing to become all virtual, the gatherings have recently started in-person once more. Speaking about some of the other challenges the group is facing, Palsson laments about the lack of good parking and access for the location. People might have to walk up to half a mile if there is another event going on and that’s a challenge for some of our participants
“Attendance has been really good,” Palsson said. “The challenge is getting someone to take up the leadership after I retire from hosting the event.”
He regularly asks for volunteers, “but unfortunately the people that show up are the old timers,” he said.
When asked about social media, Palsson said what helped the most was the video game “Assassin’s Creed”. “We could tell that a lot of people were influenced by it due to how many of them were singing songs that are unique to the game,” he said.
Also, “TikTok was really important. New signups were 20 to 50 people a month for a couple months.”
However, keeping interest high in an all-online format is tough, but the current in-person attendance numbers are promising as well as the mix of generations that are showing up. Palsson’s call to action is to ensure younger people are ready to step up to volunteer and take leadership roles in order to keep the traditions alive.
Mark your calendars!
Chanty Sings are held on the second Friday of each month with the next meeting on December 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the sail loft of the Center for Wooden Boats at South Lake Union Park.
Everyone is welcome to sing along or lead a song. Song books are available, but feel free to find, or write, your own! For more information visit: http://www.nwseaport.org/chantey-sings.html
Earlier in the evening, the historic boats along the wharf will be open for treats, crafts, visits with Santa and even a reindeer. Plus, there is an Urban Craft Uprising and market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so there is bound to be a lot to do.
The next day, Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. there will be a holiday oriented maritime concert at the Woodland Park Methodist Church sponsored by Maritime Folknet (www.maritimefolknet.org).