Whaling Songs

Overview

In Anharan culture, singing is seen as an act of reverence, and the beauty of songs in praise of Vestria are well known. This emphasis on music trickled down to the lower classes as well, who incorporate music into their everyday life, from Work Songs of The Verdante Trail, to tavern songs, to Whaling Songs in The Promenade. Those listed below are a small sample, illustrating the various types of songs and shanties from The Promenade. The majority of these songs are preserved thanks to the work of The Songbirds. The lyrics below are the most common version available, as by their nature these songs were adapted to fit the particular situation and length of the task, with verses being improvised by the chanteyman. Generally, whaling songs are divided into three types. Hauling shanties required exertion at particular moments, heaving shanties require establishing a rhythm for a longer task, and sea songs, which are a more general song sung for pleasure with instrumental accompaniment.

Heaving

Halyard Shanties

Halyard shanties are a hauling song, sung while pulling halyards, large ropes for hoisting sails, and work in emphasized words to show when to pull.

Firewater

A shorter tune, this chanty describes the effects of The Promenade's distillery district's signature drink. Sold by Armada Brewing, Firewater is the drink of choice onboard whaling vessels for its warming properties, said to be imbued with fire magic, but sailors are well aware of its flaws as well. Oh, it keeps ye warm in the coldest sea, Fire, (pull) Water (pull) Plenty to share 'tween you and me! Armada's (pull) Firewater (pull). It busts ye'r nose and tingles ye'r hands, Fire, Water If ye have too much ye'll be in the can! Armada's Firewater. Oh, it buried me dad, a sailor too, Fire, Water But it helped him give me mum a screw! Armada's Firewater If the cook could turn it to a stew, Fire, Water We'd eat it and we'd drink it too! Armada's Firewater Oh, it makes sure our pay will never last, Fire, Water But its almost as good as an East Wade lass! Armada's Firewater

Foresheet Shanties

Foresheet shanties are another hauling song, but used for shorter tasks requiring fewer bursts of force, such as tacking. The strong pull is done on the last word of the chorus, generally.

Eric Gasser

Eric Gasser is a foresheet shanty about the personification of the braggart found inevitably aboard every ship in some form or another. This nuisance of a sailor will regale his fellow crew with tales of his perilous adventures and exploits which are eyerollingly false. In this tune, he gets his comeuppance at the hand of a beast he had bragged about slaying. He's been all across the fiercest seas, Haul, Eric, Haul Beds lasses in two's and three's, Haul, Eric, Now! He told the mate he once killed a Snake, Haul, Eric, Haul 'Twas the tale that sealed his fate, Haul, Eric, Now! His ship was caught far up north, Haul, Eric, Haul A mighty gale blew it off course, Haul, Eric, Now! Eric's whaler was suddenly struck, Haul, Eric, Haul In the Serpent Sea they'd run amuck, Haul, Eric, Now! The captain asked who could kill the beast, Haul, Eric, Haul The crew then said Eric couldn't be beat, Haul, Eric, Now! The serpent's scales glistened in the light, Haul, Eric, Haul The Gasser pissed himself with fright, Haul, Eric, Now! They sent him out armed with a lance, Haul, Eric, Haul The cold froze the poor braggart's pants, Haul, Eric, Now! The serpent speared him in one attack, Haul, Eric, Haul Now Eric the Gasser is just a snack, Haul, Eric, Now! The beast was full, so they sailed down the coast, Haul, Eric, Haul Let this be a lesson for sailors not to boast, Haul, Eric, Now!

Hauling

Capstan Shanties

A capstan is a large winch, turned by multiple sailors walking in circles around it, in order to raise the anchor. These shanties exist to establish a group rhythm, rather than an emphasized pull, as well as to alleviate the psychological exhaustion of the work. Thus, they require more singing from the chanteyman, as well as a large chorus, rather than an emphasis on call-and-response. As this is hard work, the tempo is slower. These songs are also generally shared with Port Castellion, as winches play a prominent role in the defensive measures there.

Headin' South to Owin's Station

This slow shanty talks about the journey to Owin's Station, also known as Owintown, and what the sailors hope awaits them there. Owintown is a whaling outpost located at the mouth of the Starrun River, and marks the first major settlement run by Anharans along the eastern coast of the Boreal North. The station was founded by a merchant from the Seaside of The Promenade named Owin, and he runs the small town with his native daughter, Alice. Call all hands to man the caps'n, ready the anchor, we're nearly there. We're southward bound, to Owin's Station, and to Alice, with golden hair. Headin' south, headin' south, Headin' south across the sea, Headin' south to Owin's Station, Headin' south, Alice, to thee. Our toes had froze somewhere near Sprucestop, We'd lost three men out in the snow. All we want is to get there quickly, But through Squall Passage we dare not go. Headin' south, headin' south, Headin' south across the sea, Headin' south to Owin's Station, Headin' south, Alice, to thee. It's been months amongst the ice shelves, Fingerwatch is far away. Our Firewater is nearly empty, For Owin's Ale we'd gladly pay. Headin' south, headin' south, Headin' south across the sea, Headin' south to Owin's Station, Headin' south, Alice, to thee. Alice serves it in tankards heavy, For sailors, it's a heavenly sight. In a gale, we pray to Mistra, But headin' south, we need Owin's might. Headin' south, headin' south, Headin' south across the sea, Headin' south to Owin's Station, Headin' south, Alice, to thee.

Primary Related Location

The Promenade