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Ukrainian Sea Shanty

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Sea shanties are traditional songs originally created and sung by sailors onboard the old 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 especially 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.

Students in the pro-Kremlin eastern regions of Ukraine have released a cover version of the popular Wellerman sea shanty and have changed the lyrics to glorify Russia's war of aggression.

NOT TO BE OUTDONE, I've composed a version in support of Ukraine telling the real truth.

Murderers and rapists they all be Vlad Putins scumbags, his army They should all be hung from a tree For all the world to see. (huh) (Chorus) They bombed cities and towns as well And made the landscape look like hell The Russians claimed it was only a drill But it's their excuse to kill. In close combat Russians can't fight Despite their superior military might They kill men, women and little children Because it makes them feel like men. (huh) (Chorus) They bombed cities and towns as well And made the landscape look like hell The Russians claimed it was only a drill But it's their excuse to kill. The murdered victims they tried to hide Then tried to blame the Ukrainian side Reporters have filmed and they have seen Now Ukraines a giant crime scene. (huh) (Chorus) They bombed cities and towns as well And made the landscape look like hell The Russians claimed it was only a drill But it's their excuse to kill. Weapons are being sent from the West That will put those scumbags to the test But they'd better get them over there fast Or Ukraines defenders won't last. (huh) (Chorus) They bombed cities and towns as well And made the landscape look like hell The Russians claimed it was only a drill But it's their excuse to kill. The Russians had hoped for a victory Then Ukraine sunk their ship in the Black sea It was the great pride of the Black sea fleet And it put their navy in retreat. (huh) (Chorus) They bombed cities and towns as well And made the landscape look like hell The Russians claimed it was only a drill But it's their excuse to kill. Putin said nuclear and caused us alarm It seems he'd like to wish us all harm But he is paranoid and is not so tough And the west should call his bluff. (huh) (Chorus) They bombed cities and towns as well And made the landscape look like hell The Russians claimed it was only a drill But it's their excuse to kill. Written on 22nd April 2022.

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Robert Gorelick

Date: 5/18/2022 3:58:00 PM

Fantastic Shanty Matie quite spirited it is. You are quite the Shanty man! Here, Here Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/15/2023 11:38:00 AM

Thank you very much Robert, sorry for the late reply. Tom

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 5/6/2022 1:34:00 PM

Fantastic chorus! So well done Tom

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/6/2022 1:58:00 PM

Thank you Caren, after I saw those pro Russians singing it and spreading propaganda I was incensed so composed a version telling the truth. Tom

Jenna Logan

Date: 4/26/2022 10:38:00 AM

A Halleluiah Chorus for the Truth to be revealed. Good work, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/26/2022 10:42:00 AM

Thank you Jenna my blood was boiling when I saw that they'd turned that popular shanty into glorifying Russia grrrr. Tom

Judy Ball

Date: 4/25/2022 12:09:00 PM

WoW! Tom Super write! Often when "soldiers" over run a town they kill women, children and old people and often rape is a big part of it. Those are not soldiers they are criminals using the war to commit their crimes. Good stuff here. God Bless, JB

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/25/2022 10:50:00 PM

Thank you very much Judy, you're right, the Russian army are the lowest form of life, they won't engage on the battlefields, they are poisonous scum and should be shot on sight. Tom

Anil Deo

Date: 4/25/2022 6:08:00 AM

Tom, i love the combo of education (on shantymen and songs at sea) and the support for Ukraine, against Russian aggression. This is what good poets can do, amen

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/25/2022 8:47:00 AM

Thank you very much Anil, I don't have a gun and the only way I can support them is with a pen. Tom

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 4/24/2022 4:47:00 AM

A great write from a gifted poet! Love it but not Putin and not the war (huh) with a heavy sigh. There are three lovely girls who were freed from a Ukrainian orphanage before the war began and they live here in freedomland. May they be so blessed!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/24/2022 5:27:00 AM

Thank you very much Kim, this was written in response to pro Russians who glorified the invasion, I only tell the true facts. Thank God those girls escaped the horrors. Tom

David Kavanagh

Date: 4/23/2022 3:39:00 PM

Heya Tom your sea shanty goes down almost as sweet, as the the Moskva did in the Black Sea, nice work, cheers David

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/23/2022 10:58:00 PM

Thank you very much David, I was livid when I saw those pro Russians high jacking that sea shanty so responded with one that tells the truth, hope someone out there records it. Tom

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 4/23/2022 2:37:00 PM

Hi Tom, i re-iterate each and every word and poem you have written about this dirty ratbag, this filth of humanity, this the is no exception, love it !

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/23/2022 10:56:00 PM

Thank you Jennifer, his army is undisciplined acting with impunity, the west should get tougher and call his bluff, how many more needless deaths have to happen before the civilised world steps in. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 4/23/2022 10:29:00 AM

That is quite the war song against PUKIN' (deliberate misspelling). WEll done, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/23/2022 10:37:00 AM

Lol thanks Andrea, When I saw those pro Russians glorifying pukin (love it ) It inspired me to write one too. Tom

Rico Leffanta

Date: 4/23/2022 9:21:00 AM

After witnessing how useless are the UN, NATO, and "allies" both Germany and Japan have budgeted for a Strike Force for the first time since WWII, although Japan and South Korea are in an uproar over whether a nuclear deterrent is needed. Although Putin brags about liberating Ukrainians from the Nazis, he has yet to show even an armband evidence to support his claim! Keep at them, Tom! Aloha!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/23/2022 9:46:00 AM

Thank you Rico, the west needs to man up and call the dogs bluff. Putin isn't stupid, if he presses the red button then Russia will be vaporised, When I saw those pro Russians high jacking that sea shanty I was spurred into action. Hope your weekend is going well Tom

Valsa George

Date: 4/23/2022 4:49:00 AM

Wonderful poem for group singing.... ! Brilliant composition ! Unfortunately there seems to be no end to the atrocities ! Who will intervene to put a full stop to this monstrosity ??

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/23/2022 5:51:00 AM

Thank you very much Valsa, I wrote that in response to some Russian students who were praising Putin. Tom

Harry Horsman

Date: 4/22/2022 9:31:00 PM

I agree with Milt's comment below, Tom, This is Incredible, hopefully like German folk after the 2nd world war, The Russians will witness the mayhem and what putin stand for. I Still believe NATO should sign the Ukraine up as a member and we move in NOW!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/22/2022 10:23:00 PM

Thank you very much Harry, they must have known an invasion was imminent and NATO should have gone in for a joint exercise, that would have stalled him. Putin is all mouth, I'd call his bluff and say you go nuclear so will we and wipe out Russia with everything we've got or are we just going to sit back and let him get away with it. He's already planning to invade elsewhere. Tom

L Milton Hankins

Date: 4/22/2022 6:58:00 PM

Wow! Tom -- This is a perfect chanty in all respects and a truthful one, most important of all. I thoroughly enjoyed and the message you gave to all of us. Incredible writing!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/22/2022 10:18:00 PM

Thank you very much Milton, I was incensed when I saw they used that popular sea shanty glorifying Russia, I had to act fast. Tom

Eve Roper

Date: 4/22/2022 1:12:00 PM

We all are so angry like you are ,Tom.I wish this whole thing would end and the main cause of it to be put in prison. Your work is outstanding.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/22/2022 10:16:00 PM

Thank you very much Eve, heartbreaking to see what's going on in Ukraine, Putin belongs on the end of a rope. Tom

Lisa Brown

Date: 4/22/2022 1:00:00 PM

Brilliant! Now I can't stop humming the tune! I pray that this war ends soon :-(

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/22/2022 10:15:00 PM

Thank you very much Lisa, me too, but Putin is on a mad power trip. Tom

Vijay Pandit

Date: 4/22/2022 12:53:00 PM

As always, a brilliant write, Tom. They are now claiming they want to control the east and south of Ukraine. This will go on it seems--can't bear to watch the atrocities.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/22/2022 10:14:00 PM

Thank you very much Vijay, I've had to step back as it's working me up how that thug is getting away with it. He needs assassinating. Tom

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 4/22/2022 12:30:00 PM

Brilliant. A lyric but also a dirge for the poor Ukrainians who are indiscriminatingly being killed. Your poetry is of the highest level

Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/22/2022 12:41:00 PM

Thank you very much Victor, after seeing those pro Russians praising Putins war using that famous sea shanty I was moved to respond in kind telling the real truth. Tom