Drunken Sailor Songs

A ‘shanty’ or ‘chanty’ is a song sung by sailors as they labor aboard open decks on ships at sea. The most famous shanty of all: “What Shall We Do with a/the Drunken Sailor?” Story goes that this song originated in the early 1800’s on trans-Atlantic voyages between Britain and America. This style of shanty is called a “runaway chorus” or “stamp and go” because of its dynamic, upbeat tempo. It has been re-imagined and recreated by choirs, fiddlers and rock bands well into the 20th century. Have a listen to a rendition by the Irish Rovers:

Sheet Music for pirate song “What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?”

Lyrics

What Shall We Do With a
Drunken Sailor?   

What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning.

Chorus:
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Early in the morning.

Put him in the long boat ’til he’s sober
Put him in the long boat ’til he’s sober
Put him in the long boat ’til he’s sober
Early in the morning.

Chorus:
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Early in the morning.

Pull out the bung and wet him all over
Pull out the bung and wet him all over
Pull out the bung and wet him all over
Early in the morning.

Chorus:
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Early in the morning.

Put him in the scuppers with the deck pump on him
Put him in the scuppers with the deck pump on him
Put him in the scuppers with the deck pump on him
Early in the morning.

Chorus:
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Early in the morning.

Heave him by the leg in a runnin’ bowlin’
Heave him by the leg in a runnin’ bowlin’
Heave him by the leg in a runnin’ bowlin’
Early in the morning.

Chorus:
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Early in the morning.

Tie him to the taffrail when she’s yard-arm under
Tie him to the taffrail when she’s yard-arm under
Tie him to the taffrail when she’s yard-arm under
Early in the morning.

Chorus:
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Early in the morning.

Put him in the bilge and make him drink it
Put him in the bilge and make him drink it
Put him in the bilge and make him drink it
Early in the morning.

Chorus:
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Early in the morning.

Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Early in the morning.