Songs of sailors come back in fashion thanks to Tiktok

You may have already heard this air ... Indeed, at the end of January, this New Zealand sailor song is buzzing the Tiktok social network.

©️Gallica - BnF

It all starts with the resumption of a young Scottish factor,, Nathan,, a song of nineteenth -century sailors published on the social network last December. Very quickly,, other users add their voice or instruments and the video is a hit since it will make more than eight million views in just a few days! 

Sea songs to work or relax

This sail song tells the story of whale fishermen,, like many others at the time. In the middle of the 19th century,, sailing navy was at its peak and the merchant boats filled the ports,, we hear the sailors sing at work. For the sailing navy,, singing at sea was of particular importance and very specific functions: synchronize teamwork. 

With a heady melody and couplets that are easy to remember,, these songs could be accompanied by instruments like the violin or the accordion.

There are also sailors' songs for different types of work,, such as hoisting songs for the rise of sails,, songs to be turned,, songs to pump the sea water from the boat,, the songs to row or even the songs to ride.

All of these songs were very often brightened up difficult work. 

In the songs of sailors are also found in the complaints,, songs to dance,, songs of Gaillard d'avant (where the crew rests) and songs of ports. 

The marine songs of our ancestors

If you have any marine ancestors,, there is no doubt that they once sang the air of one of these songs. 

In 1861,, Gabriel de la Landelle,, a naval officer,, novelist of the sea and French man of letters,, published a collection of Poems and marine songs (available in free access). We find there Gaillard d'avant,, Sea children (une chanson pour ramer),, la chanson du Back to France On the air ofHe was a small ship And many others. 

En véritables traditions,, les chants de marins font partie intégrante du patrimoine breton. Tous les deux ans d’ailleurs,, le Festival du chant de marin de Paimpol créé en 1989,, accueil des groupes du monde entier pour rendre hommage à ces chants traditionnels et au monde marin.