Drunken Sailor

Drunken Sailor is a traditional sea shanty also known as What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?

It begins with the question, "What shall we do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning?" (Or sometimes "What do you do," etc.) Each verse thereafter suggests a method of sobering—or castigating, or simply abusing—the sailor.

The song is #322 on the Roud Folk Song Index.

Origins

The air was taken from a traditional Irish dance and march tune, "Oró Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile" (Translated as "Óró, you are welcome home") originally in dorian mode. The same tune has also been used for other songs, possibly Ten Little Injuns

The music was first reproduced in printed form in 1824–25 in Cole's Selection of Favourite Cotillions published in Baltimore. However, the lyrics were first published in 1891 under the title "What to do with a Drunken Sailor?". Another version appears in The Shanty Book, Part I, Sailor Shanties, by Richard Runciman Terry, categorised as a "Windlass and Capstan" shanty. He says of it: "Although mostly used for windlass or capstan, Sir Walter Runciman tells me that he frequently sang to it for 'hand-over-hand' hauling. Whall gives it on page 107 under the title 'Early in the morning.' It is one of the few shanties that were sung in quick Time."

Recordings and performances

The song has been widely recorded under a number of titles by a range of performers including Blaggards, Dschinghis Khan, Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions, Great Big Sea, the King's Singers, Quadriga Consort, James Last, The Swingle Singers, the Brobdingnagian Bards, the LeperKhanz, Pete Seeger, Captain Bogg and Salty, Terrorvision, Authority Zero and the hungarian irish folk-punk band Paddy and the Rats, but probably the best known rendition is by The Irish Rovers. It also forms part of a contrapuntal section in the BBC Radio 4 UK Theme by Fritz Spiegl, in which it is played alongside Greensleeves. It has also been recorded by David Thomas and features on the 2006 release Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys. The French rock band Noir Désir sing it in many concerts. The Irish Rovers traditionally end their concerts with an audience sing-along of the song.

Australian composer Percy Grainger incorporated the song and lyrics into his song setting "Scotch Strathspey And Reel".

Don Janse produced a particularly artistic arrangement in the early 1960s which has been included in several choral music anthologies. The arrangement was first recorded by The Idlers. This arrangement has been performed by several collegiate groups over the years, including the Yale Alley Cats on their Live from Europe Album.

This song has been recorded by Sam Spence under the name "Up She Rises", and is frequently used as background music for NFL Films.

The Belgian skiffle-singer Ferre Grignard covered the song in 1966.

The song is covered by the band Authority Zero on their album 12:34 (with occasional changing of the lyrics to "What do you do with a Drunken Zero").

Holly Near recorded a version on her CD "Show Up" . The rewrite features the same tune with additional lyrics added that focus on the problem of alcohol addiction.

Cutthroat Shamrock recorded a variation called "Drunk'n Pirate" on their self titled album in 2006.

Variations and parodies

The main theme from the first movement of Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102, mimics the song.

The Kingston Trio recorded "Early in the Morning" the chorus of which has the same tune but these lyrics: "When you lift your eyes and/see the sun a risin'/on the far horizon/early in the morning."

American band Firewater recorded a song entitled "Snake-Eyes and Boxcars" that borrows the melody but changes the central lyric to "What shall we do with a drunken failure?"

The Canadian band Tartan Terrors recorded a version titled "Drunken Scotsman" for their 2004 CD "Dressed To Kilt" wherein they combine existing and original verses that loosely make references to the members of the band.

Montreal band The Prowlers adapted the lyrics to suit the title "Drunken Skinhead" on their album "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow", released in 2001.

Folk singer Country Joe McDonald adapted the chorus for his song Save the Whales.

The melody is often used in Spongebob Square Pants.

The song has also been used by Bleeding Hearts as the basis for 'Siren Songs' which was released in 2002 on their live acoustic album 'Anarcoustica'.

The City Shanty Band have rewritten the song with a modern city angle . It is renamed 'Drunken Banker'.

Russian band Aquarium recorded russian version of the song (Russian: Что нам делать с пьяным матросом) with translated title and intro, and original verses (without repetitions).

The Office character Dwight Schrute sang this song as he thought he was steering the ship on the Booze Cruise episode.

Further reading

• Stan Hugill, Shanties from the Seven Seas Mystic Seaport Museum 1994 ISBN 0-913372-70-6

Song text

Intro:

What'll we do with a drunken sailor,

What'll we do with a drunken sailor,

What'll we do with a drunken sailor,

Earl-aye in the morning?

Chorus:

Weigh heigh and up she rises

Weigh heigh and up she rises

Weigh heigh and up she rises

Earl-aye in the morning

Ending Chorus:

That's what we do with a drunken Sailor,

That's what we do with a drunken Sailor,

That's what we do with a drunken Sailor,

Earl-aye in the morning

Traditional verses:

1. Shave his belly with a rusty razor,(x3)

2. Put him in the long boat till he's sober,(x3)

3. Put him in the scuppers with a hose-pipe on him.(x3)

4. Put him in bed with the captain's daughter.(x3)

Song Pattern:song starts with the intro it then proceeds to the Chorus then it follows following pattern

Verse 1 (x3),Earl-aye in the morning?,chorus,

Verse 2 (x3),Earl-aye in the morning?,chorus,

Verse 3 (x3),Earl-aye in the morning?,chorus,

Verse 4 (x3),Earl-aye in the morning?, chorus

Ending Chorus

Thats what we do with a drunken sailor

Additional verses:

5. Beat him with a cat 'til his back is bleedin'

6. Put him in the bilge and make him drink it

7. Truss him up with a runnin' bowline.

8. Give 'im a dose of salt and water.

9. Stick on 'is back a mustard plaster.

10. Send him up the crow's nest till he falls down,

11. Tie him to the taffrail when she's yardarm under,

12. Soak 'im in oil 'til he sprouts a flipper.

13. Put him in the guard room 'til he's sober.

14. That's what we'll do with the drunken sailor.

15. Shave his balls with a rusty razor.

Variations:

1+. Keep him there and make 'im bale 'er.

2a. Pull out the plug and wet him all over,

3a. Shave his back with a rusty razor.

4a. Give 'im a taste of the bosun's rope-end.

6a. Heave 'im by the leg with a runnin' bowline.

Variation Of Chorus:

Hoo-ray and up she rises,

Hoo-ray and up she rises,

Hoo-ray and up she rises,

Earl-aye in the morning

External links

• Example version with lyrics.
• Another example version with lyrics and alternative chorus.
• "Drunken Sailor", by The Irish Rovers