The English-born Weller brothers, Edward, George, and Joseph, founded a whaling station at Otakou near Dunedin some 17 years before the first British settlement. They were rum characters. From 1833, the Weller brothers sold provisions to whalers in New Zealand from their base at Otakou, which they had named Otago. Their employees became known as "wellermen" and lent their name to a sea shanty.
Despite falling out of fashion, these roaringly cheerful songs about such unwoke themes as whiskey and bonny-haired lasses recently made a surprise revival during the pandemic. Last Tuesday, Google Trends tweeted that “sea shanties” has been searched more than any other term in the platform’s history, and for good reason.
Traditionally sung by groups of seamen to help them stay synchronised on tasks, such as hoisting sails or weighing anchor, the shanty call had to be delivered with enough gusto to be heard above the gales.
While the world of scurvy, seasickness, and sailing the high seas with a limb having been blasted off by a cannonball is clearly a far cry from the experience of many, there is something in these stoic calls to endurance that is resonating, especially now during the world’s long voyage to pandemic freedom.
In the meantime, a rollicking good harmony of deep baritone booming mates threading seamlessly into one with the higher harmonies of digital strangers singing along is a comforting reminder that we are stronger together. We will get there eventually.
The Scottish singer Nathan Evans, 26, from Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, who works as a postman when he’s not posting videos of himself thumping hard surfaces to keep his tunes in time, is at the epicentre of this revival. One of the most popular numbers is his acoustic version of New Zealand’s very own whaling song The Wellerman, the Sea Shanty TikTok video has been viewed 60 million times since December.
Having a navy background, I ensure shanties feature heavily in the family Spotify collection.
Here is a small selection to get you going: