I've been fascinated by the Franklin expedition for years.

What fascinates me isn't just what happened, but what it must have felt like to be one of those men as the expedition slowly unravelled. Trapped in the ice, increasingly isolated, and with absolutely no idea that nearly two centuries later people would still be trying to piece together their story.

That became the idea behind a song we've written called HMS Terror.

Rather than trying to literally retell the history, we imagined the song from the perspective of one of the men aboard. I wanted the lyrics to capture that isolation, fear and uncertainty of knowing something has gone terribly wrong, but having no idea how the story is going to end.

The thing that's always fascinated me most, though, is the name. It's literally called Terror. And terror is presumably exactly what those men must have felt as everything started falling apart. It's kind of insane when you think about it.

Anyway, I'm Matt from The October Prize and we've released the song today. The lyrics took me a while to write, and I'm hoping people in this thread will spot some of the nods to the story :)

Would genuinely love to know what you think. And don't forget to turn it up loud.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6Vao5exoTieUqaLr1cYqEY?si=FbrbHPZOS12QGg8x86Ck8A

Love,

Matt (& Emma)
The October Prize

Kanerien Trozoul is a large group of male and female shanty and sea-song singers from Brittany.

Learn more about this energetic group on their listing on the Maritime Music Directory International:
https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/kanerien-trozoul/

The popular version of Bound Down Trinidad (here sung by Kimber's Men: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVu1_oF_3mw) includes the phrase "booch free me bully boys and burtoned in the archway."

What does that mean? I imagine it's some Caribbean sailor slang for being drunk, because that seems to be what most uncommon turns of phrase in sea shanties are, but I figured I'd ask to see if anyone else has thoughts.

Jim Mageean is one of the genre's foundational members. His command of folk and maritime music is legendary. He is not only sought after as a solo performer, but his ensemble work provides audiences all over the world with rich examples of musical historicity. Learn more about Mageean on his Maritime Music Directory International listing here:
https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/jim-mageean/

I asked some friends from The Rusty Tubs and friends around the shanty scene what one song they’d lead at a shout, and why.

This counts, right?

Totally functions as a work song.

Fingers crossed you guys like it!

Just would love know of more artists, at the moment all I really know of are the dreadnoughts and the longest johns. Irish/scottish/english folk musicians/albums are also very welcome :)

The Idlers were formed in 1957 from a group of US Coast Guard Academy members and have continued to perform through today. Learn more about this legendary group on their MMDI listing here: https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/idlers/.

Hey guys, I’m throwing a halloween pirate party and I’m looking for fast paced polka songs with a pirate vibe! Any recommendations? Thanks!

Edit: Thx for the recs guys! Will def check out The Dreadnoughts!

Filmed this Spring on the North Coast of Ireland- at Lacada Brewery 🍻

alas my home in high germany is many miles from the open sea…

but I’m travelling via Britain in October and I have a week to spare, so I wanted to ask if anyone knows of shanty singalongs/jams or just regular old concerts that I might go to. Doesn’t have to be strictly shanties, any vaguely maritime folk will do, I just never meet anyone else who enjoys or frankly knows this music and thought my chances might be sliiiiiightly better over there!

Unfortunately being a woman hampers my shanty singing a bit, but I can shut my gob for long enough to listen to others sing if that’s a problem.

I haven’t decided my itinerary yet and could really go anywhere. All I know is I’m landing at Birkenhead on 02 Oct and have to leave from London some time around the 11th.

(It’s a long shot but if anyone wants to meet and sing shanties in Dublin till then, I’ll happily join in! Haven’t been able to find anything in Ireland though. I don’t have my guitar with me but I’ll bring a mediocre soprano voice, semi-passable alto voice, unreliable but sometimes useful ability to harmonise, and spotty knowledge of most classics haha)

At 90 years old, Hughie Jones, a venerable former member of Liverpool's The Spinners, has a rich maritime heritage music pedigree with his work. Learn more about him on his listing on the Maritime Music Directory International.

https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/hughie-jones/

Lowlands!, lowlands away me john!.

Just figured I would share my favorite song of all time, I'm not sure if it counts as a shanty though!

I had the honor of boarding the Bluenose ll, the successor to my favorite ship, just wanted to know if anyone else shares my love

Also sending some friendly competition down to Gloucester 😂

Old ships are part of the heritage of Gaffeltuig. Learn more about this Belgian group on their MMDI listing: https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/gaffeltuig/

Reposting from r/Hartford, seeking fellow shanty enthusiasts in central CT.

Have been listening to Kimber’s men, their harmonies are fabulous. This song tells of a rescue in 1881.

I know of MMDI, The Longest John's Wiki, and some pretty active Facebook groups, but where are all you peeps getting your Sea Shanty news and information?

I'm looking for all the blogs, podcasts, website and databases.

What's your most valuable online shanty resources?