Are you inspired? Can you write one?
Are you inspired? Can you write one?
Big number of examples with timestamps - A Collection of Sea Shanties (vocal only) - YouTube
*Oooooohhhh
There once was a lad with a bike and pack
He sure was a handsome Jack
Hopped on a bus from the south
Narry a peep or a word from his mouth
Arrived in the city with a smile and a plan
He was dead set on getting his man
He knew where to go, he knew where to be
He was going down in history
Oooohh soon will the class war come, just as soon as the singin' is done Cooome now and sing along, add your voices to the song Oooohhh soon will the class war come, just as soon as the singin' is done Cooome now and sing along, add your voices to the song
Everyone knows, Evil rises before the sun
That's just how it goes, so in the dark Jack grabbed his gun
A short train downtown then he ascended from the escalator
He was on a mission to kill that damned death trader!
It was dark and cold December morn
Jack needed something caffeinated and warm
Coffee in his cup, determination in his eyes
He marched off ready to deliver our villain their to their demise!
Oooohh soon will the class war come, just as soon as the singin' is done Cooome now and sing along, add your voices to the song Oooohhh soon will the class war come, just as soon as the singin' is done Cooome now and sing along, add your voices to the song*
Jack made his way to the door
That's where a devil would die on the floor
Wearing a smile behind his mask
Everything was in place to finish his task
He scratched an itch with his trigger finger and the devil got his due
But our hero didn't linger, feet to the pedals and away he flew!
Other demons cried but the the people cheer
Death's minions hid yet the people never felt freer!
Oooohh soon will the class war come, just as soon as the singin' is done Cooome now and sing along, add your voices to the song Oooohhh soon will the class war come, just as soon as the singin' is done Cooome now and sing along, add your voices to the song*
Handsome Jack left his mark: DELAY! DENY! DEPOSE!
With all that kindling it sure did spark: DELAY! DENY! DEPOSE!
Now we know those devils bleed just like rest of us: DELAY! DENY! DEPOSE!
Mimicry is a compliment paid by the best of us: DELAY! DENY! DEPOSE!
Where did he go, I won't say: DELAY! DENY! DEPOSE!
But he put on a show, and we've all got a role to play: DELAY! DENY! DEPOSE!
It's never easy but it can be fun, come now and do your part: DELAY! DENY! DEPOSE!
Don't be sad the singin' is done, this is just the start! DELAY! DENY! DEPOSE!
Sorry formatting is bad because I'm on my phone
Notes for improvement (no pun intended)
- Make the syllables of each line more consistent
- Maybe another verse with more of the CEOs misdeeds
- Maybe another verse with more of the cops fucking up
I'm not really musically or lyrically talented, so please more artistic folks,
The foundation of any good shanty is stealing the tune and half hte lyrics from another shanty
I think I once heard Utah Phillips describe the IWW songwriting process as something to the effect of stealing the hymn tunes 'cause they're pretty and changing the lyrics so they made more sense.
not a sea shanty but i did write this like 5 hours ago
🎶🎵🎶To the rainy streets of Midtown came a stranger one fine dawn...
Hardly spoke to folks around him, before noon he would be goooooone🎵🎶🎵
Now down in this here Midtown a fine outlaw gave a smile~
Didn't try to hide his swagger you could see him from a mile~
No one saw where he did come from no one saw where he did go~
But that fine outlaw went and bagged himself a wicked CEO (a wicked CEOOO)~
Yo ho yo ho
I'll tell you a tale of a CEO
Ruining lives is how he made his gold
Millions a year or so I'm toldYo ho yo ho
The devil himself said 'bout the CEO
This scurvy dog has got to go
So he gave a pistol to a young lad bold
And told him to go and claim him a soul
The scurvy soul of the CEOI can't think of anything else lmao this sucks.
The Ballad of the Adjuster
Here's the start to a chorus based on the first one you posted!
Excellent!
Thanks!
To a sea shanty rhythm
Just sit right back
And you'll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful cap
That started a December fourth
Big Pharma guy got got
Assassin mighty handsome man
He had a trusty bike
CEO went away that day
For a final dirt nap, a final dirt nap
The fifth line is still wonky and leaky but I spent enough time writing that.
december fourth it happened
big pharma guy got clapped
assassin mighty handsome man
escaped on trusty bike, hey
Could also make a good murder ballad. Although those are mostly about people who didn't deserve to die.
I found a YouTube link in your post. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy: