Drunken Sailor, The

Polka · 2/4 · G major

The Drunken Sailor is a traditional sea shanty whose exact origin and authorship remain uncertain, though it was widely sung by nineteenth-century sailors to accompany heavy onboard tasks. Set in G major with a brisk 2/4 meter, the tune typically features an energetic, bouncy polka rhythm and a lively, call-and-response character designed for group participation. Historically associated with working the capstan on tall ships, it has endured as a familiar staple of maritime folklore and traditional instrumental sessions.

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