Home » Poems » Tom Cunningham » The Fishermans Brush With Death - Sea Shanty

Tom Cunningham | + Follow Poet |

The Fishermans Brush With Death - Sea Shanty

Poet's Notes

(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Tom Cunningham.

Image credit - myfreshplans.com

Sea shanties are traditional songs originally created and sung by sailors onboard sailing ships.

They are generally 'call and response' songs, with one singer, known as the shantyman leading and the other sailors replying with the chorus.

They have a regular, heavy rhythm. There may be dozens of versions and verses, but the tune and tempo remain constant

Sea shanties were work songs, devised to accompany particular actions or tasks on board a ship.

They could help keep time among groups of sailors, coordinate physical movements like hauling ropes and raising sails, and relieve the boredom of long, repetitive tasks.

They have become quite popular during lockdown restrictions and there are many being sung on social media platforms like TikTok and people all over the world are joining in with the chorus.

If you've heard the Wellerman shanty you'll be able to sing it with my lyrics below.

One fine day I was fishing at sea Two big blue whales swam up by me They flicked their tails sent up a spray All I could do was watch and pray They kept flicking and sank my boat I'm now in the water and here I float If no one is around to save my life Then a widow she'll be, my wife. I'm not afraid of a big blue whale I'll put a harpoon in its flickering tail When seas get rough from a blowin' gale Just pour me another swig of ale. They kept flicking and sank my boat I'm now in the water and here I float If no one is around to save my life Then a widow she'll be, my wife. I'd cut my hand and the blood ran free Three fins appeared ready for their tea Then from nowhere I heard a shout "Grab the rope we'll get you out". They kept flicking and sank my boat I'm now in the water and here I float If no one is around to save my life Then a widow she'll be, my wife. They hauled me in and saved my neck I was a soggy heap upon their deck I was perished they gave me rum Felt a warm glow in my tum. They kept flicking and sank my boat I'm now in the water and here I float If no one is around to save my life Then a widow she'll be, my wife. The sails went up they made for shore Made a vow to myself the sea no more Now I'm a crofter working on dry land And ne'er again see sea or sand. They kept flicking and sank my boat I'm now in the water and here I float If no one is around to save my life Then a widow she'll be, my wife. After five months I was longing to be Back in the boat fishing out at sea A landlubbers life was not for me On the water I was free. They kept flicking and sank my boat I'm now in the water and here I float If no one is around to save my life Then a widow she'll be, my wife. The credit for the third verse goes to Jenna Logan. Written 31st January 2021.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Valsa George

Date: 2/15/2022 3:34:00 AM

What an interesting story...... But I have one suggestion..... after you were rescued you shouldn't have repeated that refrain ! However you are saved from those predator whales and all of us are mighty happy about it ! :) :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/15/2022 7:15:00 AM

Good point Valsa, it was based on a sea shanty that are popular on YouTube and tik tok, they always finish with the chorus. Tom

Lisa Brown

Date: 3/19/2021 2:58:00 PM

This is absolutely brilliant! I just sang it to myself whilst reading it! Well done! :-)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/19/2021 3:00:00 PM

Thank you very much Lisa, they're very popular at the moment. Tom

Jennifer Fenn

Date: 3/4/2021 6:21:00 PM

What a great sea shanty! I like how you write on such diverse subjects in all kinds of styles, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/4/2021 6:41:00 PM

Thank you very much Jennifer, im happy that you enjoyed it. Hope your week is going well. Tom

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 2/13/2021 6:34:00 AM

Terrific shanty Tom! Great rhythm and cadence. Kudos to Jenna for the third verse as well. :) Linda

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/13/2021 7:01:00 AM

Thank you very much Linda, they've become very popular on social media with people from all over the world joining in. Tom

Sara Kendrick

Date: 2/8/2021 3:16:00 AM

Ahhh!! I like this one. A jaunty one, I'd say. Sara

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/8/2021 5:13:00 AM

Thank you very much Sara. They're quite addictive once you start. Hope you're well Tom

Robert Lindley

Date: 2/6/2021 9:31:00 AM

A positively delightful and inspiring piece my friend. Anything about sea, ships, pirates, sailors, oceans and or that rich history of song, adventure , sailing, exploration and vastness of earth's water interests me. A fav-- a gem.. God bless...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/6/2021 10:33:00 AM

Thank you very much Robert. I too love anything maritime, have wrote many about tragedies that have befallen people, Titanic, The Andrea Gail and The Edmund Fitzgerald. The ocean can be a hostile environment. Thanks too for the fav. Tom

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 2/5/2021 7:22:00 AM

Love this! Exceptional writing Tom. ;0)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/5/2021 9:08:00 AM

Thank you very much Richard, im happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 2/3/2021 7:35:00 PM

G’day Tom … I have to say you can’t help but sing as you read your sea shanty. It is truly great and up with them all - well done Tom - Lindsay

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/4/2021 12:47:00 AM

Thank you very much Lindsay. They're very popular at the moment. Tom

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 2/3/2021 12:48:00 PM

Well, thank you for introducing us to "sea shanties," Tom! I'd never heard of them, even though I've spent quite a bit of time offshore fishing. I really like the way the story flows from verse to verse. A fave for me, my friend! Enjoyed! Hugs, Carolyn

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/3/2021 12:51:00 PM

Thank you very much Carolyn, they were very popular back in the days of the old sailing ships, thanks too for the fave, I hope you are keeping well. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 2/3/2021 9:01:00 AM

The informative introduction leads to a masterpiece of a poem/ that makes the reader keep his breath/ waiting to read what will come up next! I loved it, my friend, Tom! Congratulations on your epic writing! Blessings.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/3/2021 10:09:00 AM

Thank you very much Demetrios, im happy you liked it. I Hope you're well. Tom

Terry Flood

Date: 2/2/2021 5:15:00 PM

Really, Tom... TWO blue whales? I’ve never seen one. I reckon they were submarines. I mean, seriously, you’d have to be some kind of drunken seafarer to think you’d seen two blue... oh I get it. Great job Tom. I don’t know the Wellerman Shanty but it reads just fine to me anyway. Well written... I’m off to google ’Wellerman’. Terry.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/3/2021 2:34:00 AM

Lol, first off I haven't seen blue ones either apart from Shamu in sea world and there was two foot glass between us. They're very catchy tunes for sure, Belle suggested a zoom with soupers joining in. We'd be a big hit im sure. Tom

Terry Flood
Date: 2/2/2021 5:23:00 PM

Well, aren’t I the silly old squid... course I know the tune, just didn’t know it’s name. Your shanty works very well with it... now all I gotta do is get the dammed tune out of my head before I jump off Ryde pier and get eaten by a passing Bluey!

Judy Ball

Date: 2/2/2021 11:41:00 AM

A really good sing/song Tom. Love the imagery. God Bless, JB

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 11:42:00 AM

Thank you very much Judy, im happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Jan Allison

Date: 2/2/2021 10:55:00 AM

Before lockdown last year we' occassionally to go to a sailor's shelter here where they do live music once a week, this would go down a storm if it was set to music, excellent ink Tom:-)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 11:20:00 AM

Thank you Jan, a postman from Scotland has gone global with his version of the wellerman shanty and I composed this to that tune. I think Belle has been singing it lol. Sounds like a good night at the sailors shelter. Tom

Panagiota Romios

Date: 2/2/2021 10:37:00 AM

I was like the sixth commenter yesterday. Now it is gone? I said this was a superb piece of artistry... And further, it should be a POTD... Don't know why it's missing. Not my fault. Am going to screenshot this one Pangie

Jan Allison
Date: 2/2/2021 11:20:00 AM

That happened to me on Jenna's recent potd i commented and looked later t read the comments and mine was gone... and it hasn't flipped over to Rick's potd :-( hugs jan xx

Jan Allison
Date: 2/2/2021 10:56:00 AM

That happened to me on Jenna's recent potd i commented and looked later t read the comments and mine was gone... and it hasn't flipped over to Rick's potd :-( hugs jan xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 10:46:00 AM

No worries Pangie, this site has a mind of its own, I've heard of many losing comments lately so you're not alone. Tom

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 2/2/2021 9:42:00 AM

That’s a wonderful shanty Tom, (Jenna’s verse too) I read it to the tune of the Wellerman shanty, perfection... Belle

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 3:13:00 PM

That's worth looking into Belle. The Poetry shanty singers.

Beryl Edmonds
Date: 2/2/2021 11:35:00 AM

I did sing along, very catchy are shanty’s - wouldn’t it be good to do a zoom with all of us singing this shanty in tune ~ Belle

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 10:43:00 AM

Thank you very much Belle, did you sing along ? Very catchy tunes aren't they. Hope you're well. Tom

Joanna Daniel

Date: 2/2/2021 1:44:00 AM

You have written a wonderful shanty, Tom, and introduced me to this new form:)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 7:31:00 AM

Thank you very much Jo, they're catchy tunes and easy to write once you got a tune in your head. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 2/1/2021 11:56:00 PM

- Awesome ... I would love to hear you sing this, Tom :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 7:28:00 AM

Lol, well its looking doubtful I'll be going to Norway now but if it goes ahead we can do a duet, I'll supply the rum. Tom

Harry Horsman

Date: 2/1/2021 9:22:00 PM

Wonderful tale Tom, i had a great grandfather lost at sea in 1907 a trawler from Grimsby went down while fishing in the Atlantic. So i relate to the poem. love Jenna's stanza also.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 7:26:00 AM

Thank you very much Harry, the wild Atlantic is unforgiving, and over the centuries has claimed many lives, I wrote about one fishing boat the Andrea Gail that got caught in mountainous seas in the Atlantic, im sorry to hear you lost your great grandfather to it. They were a tough breed of men and took it all in their stride, Tom

Janice Canerdy

Date: 2/1/2021 8:10:00 PM

Superb piece of poetry, Tom! Janice

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 7:19:00 AM

Thank you very much Janice, im happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Gershon Wolf

Date: 2/1/2021 7:51:00 PM

What a fine sea shanty in the classic style, Tom. -- How'd that critique sound? On point, I hope... You think that I have the faintest idea what a 'sea shanty' is?... But I'll bet my bottom dollar -- uh, oh -- that if ever a sea shanty there was, this one is it! lol. Really enjoyed the rolling, rollicking rhythm, Tom. Just great! ~ At Sea, Gershon

Gershon Wolf
Date: 2/2/2021 8:49:00 PM

LOL, at this point the only lubber in me is the lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub of the old ticker. Thank God that's still working. Cheers, Gershon

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 7:21:00 AM

Lol, I can see you're a landlubber Gershon, very popular in the old days of sailing ships, they'd sing them to mark time for raising the sails and anchor. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/1/2021 4:23:00 PM

a shanty, huh? Well, you have done a very fine job with this form. Awesomee!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/2/2021 7:18:00 AM

Thank you very much Andrea, they're becoming quite popular on the social media, just something that's caught on. Tom

Tania Kitchin

Date: 2/1/2021 3:33:00 PM

I love it Tom, a great sea shanty!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/1/2021 3:43:00 PM

Thank you very much Tania, im glad you enjoyed it. They're really taking off on the net. Hope you're well. Tom

Akkina Downing

Date: 2/1/2021 1:01:00 PM

Just fabulous, Tom. And Jenna... ^_^

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/1/2021 1:03:00 PM

Thank you very much Akkina, im happy you enjoyed it. Tom

Jenna Logan

Date: 2/1/2021 10:44:00 AM

YAY, another Tom tale! you never disappoint, Tom. Here's a verse...I'm not afraid of any big blue whale/ I'll put a harpoon in its flickering tail/ When seas get rough from a blowin' gale/ Just pour me another swig of that ale, Not sure I have the correct cadence, but you get my 'drift.'

Jenna Logan
Date: 2/1/2021 11:15:00 AM

Of course you may, Tom. Thanks!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/1/2021 10:56:00 AM

Haha love it Jenna, is it ok to put that in, you'll get the credit for it. Tom

Vijay Pandit

Date: 2/1/2021 10:07:00 AM

Thanks for the notes at the start of your poem, Tom. Enjoyed the unique tone of your Sea Shanty. They sure loved their trade and nothing ever could keep them away. Lovely tribute you wrote to honor them.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/1/2021 10:21:00 AM

Thank you very much Vijay, Ill have to see if I add a link. Hope your week goes well. Tom