The English & the World

So, while most of the music is English or of English origin (whether it be British or American), a lot of these songs are also Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Dutch, lower German, German, etc. On top of that, many of the songs have unknown pasts, and it's hard to distinguish which of the songs came from where, as they're converted into several different languages.

Return!

Almost a year later, and I finally get my act together. With grad school in full swing, and with research in progress for my thesis, I hope I will be able to utilize this site much more than before (as in, actually utilize it compared to not touching it!)

Right now I'm working on a research paper dealing with Shanties, so we shall see how that turns out.

Sincerest of Apologies

Ladies and Gentlemen, and all sorts of readers:

I sincerely, most sincerely, apologize for starting this off, and then doing nothing with it. While excuses are merely a way to slide the blame off of me to something else, I still feel that I need to explain myself. Soon after starting this, I was overwhelmed with graduate school applications, and then holding between two and four jobs at any given time. When I had a day off from works, I guarantee you, research and more 'work' was not on my mind of things to do. Spending time with friends and family was the order of the day.

While I'm still holding several jobs at the moment - I need the money, you know? - things have possibly calmed down enough for me to try getting this blog jumpstarted into something interesting and engaging.

As before, if you have ANY ideas, suggestions, or things you'd like me to look into, let me know! As much as I'd like to act like it, I'm not omniscient. Well, most of the time. Alright, alright, never.

Bear with me while I try to get my act together (I know, shame on me for getting into something I don't go through with!) and get real information on here. Instead of excuses. And avoidances.

Again, the deepest of apologies.

Ahoy!

Welcome and well met!

I want to personally thank you for taking the time to visit this site and see what it's all about. If you decide you enjoy the posts and want to make sure you are kept up to date on the posts, feel free to add yourself to the Followers application at the top left of this page.

My goal with Ye Olde Seafarers is to bring history to life for my readers. I am someone who strongly believes that history is to be enjoyed, and is not compiled of dry, boring facts that make you want to yawn and bash your head against the book or computer. I have a Bachelor's degree in history, and I have continued to read, research, and write about history since graduation - naval history in particular. I live and breathe history. Many of my friends are Sailors and Marines, which has added to my love of naval history. And I'll admit a personal love of pirates, even if they were outlaws. No, I am not talking about the Hollywood pirates that most of us are accustomed to - although I love Pirates of the Caribbean's Jack Sparrow, Captain Blood's Peter Blood, and the Princess Bride's Westley / Dread Pirate Roberts - I find it much more satisfying to understand the real pirates of history. What drove them, what life was like, who they were.

That pretty nicely sums up the entire site, actually. I study history because I want to know about the people. While dry facts are very important, such as dates and names (it would not be good, for example, to say that the French and Indian War was fought in 356 BCE), I prefer to know the underlying story that so many people forget to mention.

Who were these people? What did they eat? What type of music did they enjoy? Did they laugh a lot, or were they a more somber people? What were the rules and laws they followed? How were they expected to behave? What were their weapons? What were the societal norms?

These are questions I seek to answer, and I intend to do so in an informal, entertaining, and educational way. I know from experience that history is much more enjoyable when someone can put it in an easy-to-understand and casual fasion, and that is my goal when writing. I want to put the joy and interest back into historical facts, and draw interest into things gone by. They were people, just like you and me. The same drama, the same frustrations, the same joys. It just so happens... they lived a few hundred years before you and me.

So here's to a site filled with fun, love, dedication, and history. Please feel free to send me ideas on things you would like to see posted on here by emailing me at yeoldeseafarers [at] gmail [dot] com. Feel free to comment at the bottom of the posts, and to become a follower.

To end the first post, I have copied below the lyrics from the sea shanty Captain Kidd, having thought to have originated within a few years of his death by hanging. Lyrics, a midi file, and a snippet of information about the song can be found here, courtesy of www.contemplator.com. Enjoy!


My name is William Kidd, as I sailed, as I sailed
My name is William Kidd, as I sailed
My name is William Kidd, God's laws I did forbid
And most wickedly I did, as I sailed, as I sailed

Oh, my parents taught me well, as I sailed, as I sailed
My parents taught me well, as I sailed
My parents taught me well to shun the gates of Hell
But against them I rebelled, as I sailed, as I sailed

Oh, I murdered William Moore, as I sailed, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore and I left him in his gore
Many leagues from shore, as I sailed, as I sailed

Oh, I steered from sound to sound, as I sailed, as I sailed
Oh I steered from sound to sound, as I sailed
I steered from sound to sound, and many ships I found
And all of them I burned as I sailed, as I sailed

And being cruel still, as I sailed, as I sailed
And being cruel still, as I sailed
And being cruel still my gunner I did kill
And his precious blood did spill, as I sailed, as I sailed

I was sick and nigh to death, as I sailed, as I sailed
I was sick and nigh to death, as I sailed
I was sick and nigh to death and I vowed with every breath
To walk in wisdom's ways when I sailed, when I sailed

My repentance lasted not, as I sailed, as I sailed
My repentance lasted not, as I sailed
My repentance lasted not, my vows I soon forgot
Damnation was my lot, as I sailed, as I sailed

To execution dock I must go, I must go
To execution dock I must go
To execution dock, while many thousands flock
But I must bear the shock and must die, and must die,

Take a warning now by me, for I must die, for I must die,
Take a warning now by me for I must die
Take a warning now by me and shun bad company,
Lest you come to hell with me, for I must die, I must die.