Free downloadable shanties

Sails by Forget the Whale (song in MP3)

'Sails' is a wonderful song with elements of pop rock, blues and alternative music. Performing is the American pop rock band, Forget the Whale. This song is provided by this talented group of musicians under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) licence (16 MiB, MP3, 6:39 minutes)

 1 file(s)  1 downloadCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Song of the Volga Boatmen (orchestral music, MP3)

'Song of the Volga Boatmen' is a well-known traditional Russian song. It was originally sung by burlaks (barge haulers) on the Volga River, the longest river in Europe. This version by an unidentified orchestra is part of a collection of classical tracks recorded by American composer and musician Kevin MacLeod under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) licence. (1.3 MiB, MP3, 1:01 minutes)

 1 file(s)  25 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Adieu, Sweet Lovely Nancy (traditional song in MP3)

'Adieu, Sweet Lovely Nancy'is a traditional English song featuring the beautiful voice of Hazel Askew,a London-based singer, musician and workshop leader. It is sung from the point of a sailor who bids farewell to his beloved Nancy before going to sea. Although it references the navy and war, the song should appeal to all seafarers. The audio file is courtesy of the English Folk Dance and Song Society and published in Marine Café Blog to be used for non-commercial purposes only. (3.9 MiB, MP3, 2:51 minutes)

 1 file(s)  13 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Yeave Ho by Roots Acappella (shanty in MP3)

Enjoy this beautiful version of the pulling shanty, 'Yeave Ho', by Roots Acapella, a youth choir from Devon, England. The audio file is courtesy of the London-based English Folk Dance & Song Society. (1.0 MiB, MP3, 1:06 minutes)

 1 file(s)  20 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Pirates of the Coast by Black Bones (song in MP3)

A wonderful song for all pirate fans. 'Pirates of the Coast'by Black Bones is courtesy of Freemusicarchive.org and published on the Marine Café Blog website under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.. ((6.2 MiB, MP3, 4:01 minutes)

 1 file(s)  12 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Drink Up Me Mateys by Black Bones (pirate song in MP3)

'Drink Up Me Mateys' is a heady song celebrating the pirate's life of adventure and danger. It is courtesy of Freemusicarchive.org and distributed by Marine Café Blog under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License . (5.5 MiB, MP3, 3:52 minutes)

 1 file(s)  14 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Coast Guard History (magazine about the United States Coast Guard, PDF)

'Coast Guard History' is a slim magazine that opens a window to the glorious past of the United States Coast Guard. Published in 1958 by the USCG Public Information Division, it features several articles starting with how the first cutter fleet was launched. The succeeding articles examine the role of the Coast Guard in peacetime and war (War of 1812, American Civil War and World Wars I and II). 'Coast Guard History' is courtesy of The Biodiversity Heritage Library. (3.6 MiB, PDF, 36 pages)

 1 file(s)  1 downloadCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload

Sailor Song by the Peerless Quartet (vintage song in MP3)

'Sailor Song'was recorded in 1915 by The Peerless Quartet, an American vocal group that recorded in the early years of the 20th century. The audio file comes from the Freemusicarchive.org under a Public Domain / Sound Recording Common Law Protection License. (2.1 MiB, MP3, 2:52 minutes)

 1 file(s)  37 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Bring Back My Bonnie to Me (traditional folk song in MP3)

This vintage version of 'Bring Back My Bonnie to Me' (alternate title, 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean') features the complete lyrics of the traditional Scottish folk song. Recorded in 1906, it was peformed by the orchestra-backed Haydn Quartet, one of the most popular quartets in the early part of the 20th century. (1.3 MiB, MP3, 2:20 minutes)

 1 file(s)  31 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Captain Blood by Black Bones (buccaneer sailing song in MP3)

'Captain Blood'is an exhuberant song by the Black Bones music band, part of their 2010 album, Pirates of the Coast. This audio file courtesy of Black Bones on Freemusicarchive.org. tt is  licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.. (8.9 MiB, MP3, 4:14 minutes)

 1 file(s)  29 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Drunken Sailor (acoustic version) by the Rijsel Irish Boy’Z (sea shanty in MP3)

This version of 'Drunken Sailor' may well be playing at a rock concert or a drinking party. The audio file is courtesy of American archivist Jason Scott on Archive.org and licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) licence. (4 MiB, MP3, 3:59 minutes)

 1 file(s)  37 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Seagull by The Mind Orchestra (a New Age song in MP3)

'Seagull'is a New Age song from The Mind Orchestra, whose music is designed to inspire and heal. This audio file is from Freemusicarchive.org. It is licensed under a Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) licence . (5.2 MiB, MP3, 3:37 minutes)

 1 file(s)  45 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

The Pirate Song by David Rovics (pop song in MP3)

'The Pirate Song' is a jolly tune by David Rovics (b. 1967), an American songwriter, blogger and podcaster. It is courtesy of Freemusicarchive.org and licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States licence. (4 MiB, MP3, 1:50 minutes)

 1 file(s)  13 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Rio Grande (shanty, ringtone for iPhone)

A zesty ringtone for iPhone users..This is a cut from the popular sea shanty, Rio Grande, also known by its alternative title 'Away Rio'. (420.7 KiB, M4R, 26 seconds)

 1 file(s)  1 downloadCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (ringtone for iPhone)

A lovely ringtone of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, a traditional Scottish folk song popular in Western culture. This audio file  features the voice of UK folk singer Carolyn Robson and is courtesy of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. (190.1 KiB, M4R, 31 seconds)

 1 file(s)  6 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Heave Away by Roger McGuinn (sea shanty in MP3)

This version of 'Heave Away'is by Roger Mcguinn, an American folk singer and former frontman of the rock music band The Byrds. Licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States. (615.0 KiB, MP3, 2:37 minutes) There are many variations to the lyrics of 'Heave Away'. According to the music website Contemplator.com, the shanty is also known as 'Heave Away, Me Johnnies', and dates back to the Irish migration of the 1840s and 1850s.

 1 file(s)  22 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Healthy eating and depression: How diet helps protect your mental health

Depression is fairly common amongst seafarers. This small booklet explains how proper nutrition can contribute to one's mental health and fight depression. It was written by Dr Lynn Harbottle, Consultant in Nutrition and Dietetics at the Health and Social Services Department in Guernsey. The booklet is courtesy of the Mental Health Foundation, New Zealand. (190.4 KiB, PDF, 15 pages) N.B: Those suffering from clinical depression should seek professional help.

 1 file(s)  2 downloadsCategory: Seafarers' Rights & WelfareDownload

Drunken Sailor (iPhone ringtone, instrumental)

A merry ringtone for your iPhone! This is the instrumental intro to the very popular sea shanty, 'Drunken Sailor'. (258.7 KiB, M4R, 16 seconds) See also the rock-style ringtone of 'Drunken Sailor' for iPhones (CLICK HERE)

 1 file(s)  4 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Away, Rio (sea shanty recorded in 1939)

'Away, Rio' (also known as 'Rio Grande') is an outward-bound shanty sung by sailors at the capstan or windlass whilst lifting anchor. This 1939 recording has a certain raw charm and features the unaccompanied vocals of Captain Leighton Robinson, Alex Barr, Arthur Brodeur, and Leighton McKenzie. It is courtesy of the Library of Congress, W.P.A. California Folk Music Project collection. (3.0 MiB, MP3, 4 minutes) CLICK HERE for a contemporary version of 'Away Rio' by Roger McGuinn.

 1 file(s)  15 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Island in the Sun (Harry Belafonte – MP3 ringtone)

This charming ringtone features the opening stanza of 'Island in the Sun', which Jamaican-American singer and songwriter Harry Belafonte performed for the 1957 film Island in the Sun. The song talks about the simple life on a Caribbean island. It was co-written by Belafonte with American songwriter-musician Irving Burgie. (279.3 KiB, MP3, 23 seconds)

 1 file(s)  22 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Lighthouses by David Stevenson

'Lighthouses'was written by David Stevenson (1815–1886), a Scottish civil engineer and lighthouse designer, and published in 1864. Stevenson describes in detail the construction, illumination and management of the early lighthouses. In the Introduction, he pays tribute to their beauty: "Tall and graceful as the minar of an Eastern mosque, they possess far more solidity and beauty of construction; and, in addition to this, their form is as appropriate to the purpose for which it was designed as anythinig ever done by the Greeks..." (1.4 MiB, PDF, 127 pages)

 1 file(s)  8 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload

Her Sweet Sailor Boy (old American folk song in MP3)

'Her Sweet Sailor Boy'tells the poignant story of a woman who dies for love after learning that her sweetheart has perished at sea. The song is said to have been sung by the early settlers in California. This 1938 recording is part of 'California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collected by Sidney Robertson Cowell' of the Library of Congress. (728.1 KiB, MP3, 1:33 minutes)

 1 file(s)  26 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Sally Brown (sea shanty in MP3)

'Sally Brown' is a capstan shanty with varying lyrics. This version was recorded in 1939 and forms part of the Library of Congress' W.P.A. California Folk Music Project collection. It features the unaccompanied vocals of Alex Barr, Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, Leighton McKenzie, and Leighton Robinson. (6.6 MiB, MP3, 2:53 minutes) The Sally Brown in the song title is a Creole lady (woman from the Caribbean of mixed European and black descent). An interesting note on the song can be found here.

 1 file(s)  16 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

The Mermaid (a comic sea song in MP3)

'The Mermaid'(also known as 'Down in the Diving Bell') is about a young sailor who falls in love with a mermaid and marries her. This 1938 recording features the unaccompanied vocals of Warde H. Ford. It is courtesy of the Library of Congress, W.P.A. California Folk Music Project collection. (1.6 MiB, MP3, 2:01 minutes) For more about mermaids in music, click here.

 1 file(s)  16 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Banana Boat (Day-o) by Harry Belafonte (for iPhones)

This is a digitised verion of Belafonte's original recording of 'Banana Boat (Day-o)', a traditional Jamaican song. It has been converted for use on iPhones (3.1 MiB, M4R, 3:01 minutes)

 1 file(s)  19 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

The Old Skipper (folk song in MP3)

'The Old Skipper'was sung and recorded in 1937 by Captain Pearl R. Nye. The singing is laid-back and the narrative, colourful and charming. (5.8 MiB, MP3, 4:23 minutes) See also Captain Nye's 'In a Storm at Sea'.

 1 file(s)  56 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Drunken Sailor (ringtone in MP3, chorus)

Liven up your smartphone with this ringtone. It is a cut from the popular sea shanty 'Drunken Sailor' performed by the 80-member Midshipmen Glee Club of the U.S. Naval Academy. (436.4 KiB, MP3, 18 seconds)

 1 file(s)  42 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

In a Storm at Sea (old folk song in MP3)

'In a Storm at Sea" tells about a ship which is battered by a stormy sea but, by God's mercy, eventually finds safety in a harbour with its entire crew. It was sung and recorded in 1937 by Captain Pearl R. Nye (1872-1950). This audio file is courtesy of the U.S. Library of Congress, for which Captain Nye transcribed the lyrics of hundreds of songs. (1.8 MiB, MP3, 1:07 minutes)

 1 file(s)  45 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Leaving of Liverpool (traditional folk song in MP3)

'(The) Leaving of Liverpool' is a traditional folk song about a 19th-century mariner bidding farewell to his beloved before he sails from the town of Liverpool, England, to Californa, USA.  It is also known as 'Fare Thee Well, My Own True Love',This lively version is courtesy of the Maritime Museum of San Diego in California, part of its Gold Rush Sea Chanteys collection. (2.1 MiB, MP3, 2:37 minutes) For more about 'The Leaving of Liverpool', see American folklorist Stephen D. Winick's article. (Click here)

 1 file(s)  25 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

“Sung With Gusto by the Men”: A Unique Recording of “The Leaving of Liverpool” (article by Stephen D. Winick)

American folklorist Stephen D. Winick tracks the history and various recordings of the traditional folk song, 'The Leaving of Liverpool'. His highly informative article appeared in the Summer/Fall 2008 edition of the Folklife Center News, edited by Winick and published by The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. (1.1 MiB, PDF, 12 pages)

 1 file(s)  0 downloadCategory: Maritime History and Culture, Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Drunken Sailor (ringtone for iPhones)

Enjoy hearing one of the most popular sea shanties every time your iPhone rings. The ringtone is based on a Glamrock Brothers remix in rock style of Drunken Sailor. (457.2 KiB, M4R, 28 seconds)

 1 file(s)  10 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Blow the Man Down (sea shanty, ringtone in MP3)

This jaunty ringtone for Android phones freatures the intro to Blow the Man Down, a popular sea shanty. (319.7 KiB, MP3, 15 seconds)

 1 file(s)  30 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Drunken Sailor (ringtone for smartphones – instrumental)

A delightful instrumental ringtone of the very popular shanty, Drunken Sailor, for Android phones. (274.6 KiB, MP3, 16 seconds)

 1 file(s)  48 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

We’ll Rant and We’ll Roar (traditional folk song in MP3)

This is a beatiful version of We'll Rant and We'll Roar, a folk song which is an offshoot of the traditional British naval song 'Spanish Ladies'. The performer is Hazel Askew, a singer, musician and composer from London. The audio file is courtesy of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. (2.7 MiB, MP3, 1:59 minutes)

 1 file(s)  89 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (ringtone for smartphones)

Get this sweet ringtone for your Android phone. My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean is a traditional Scottish folk song popular in Western culture. This audio clip features the voice of UK folk singer Carolyn Robson and is courtesy of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. (241.3 KiB, MP3, 31 seconds)

 1 file(s)  27 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Columbus Day by Charles Hervey Townshend

First published in 1893, Columbus Daythrows light on the real origin of the name 'America'. Wrote Captain Charles H. Townshend in his thought-provoking paper: "The whole world has been led into the error that America was named for Vesputius, a Florentine map-maker, who enlightened Europe on the discoveries of Columbus." (544.6 KiB, PDF, 6 pages)

 1 file(s)  12 downloadsCategory: Maritime History and CultureDownload

Rio Grande (shanty, ringtone for smartphones)

Liven up your smartphone with this zesty ringtone. This is a cut from the popular shanty, Rio Grande, also known by its alternative title 'Away Rio'. (540.1 KiB, MP3, 26 seconds) The full version can be downloaded from here.

 1 file(s)  41 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Away Rio by Roger McGuinn (shanty in MP3)

A beautiful renditon by American musician Roger McGuinn of Away Rio, a capstan or windlass shanty usually sung by sailors for taking in the anchor. This audio file is made available by Marine Café Blog  under Mr. McGuinn's Creative Commons licence CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 US. See also See also Rio Grande - Sailors Hornpipe.

 1 file(s)  191 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

What Seafarers Should Know About Remittances

This guide from Marine Café Blog contains essential information about seafarer remittances -- what ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, says on the subject; the remittance rules of the Philippines and India; and some steps seafarers can take to protect their hard-earned money. It is free to copy, share and distribute. (476.1 KiB, PDF, 7 pages)

 1 file(s)  55 downloadsCategory: Seafarers' Rights & WelfareDownload

Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour) Rules, 2016, of India

This is the full text in Hindi and English of India's Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour) Rules, 2016. The rules were published in the Official Gazette on 29th February 2016 and reflect India's compliance with ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, which came into force on 20th August 2013. This file is courtesy of the Directorate General of Shipping. (446.1 KiB, PDF, 45 pages)

 1 file(s)  9 downloadsCategory: Seafarers' Rights & Welfare, Seafaring and ManningDownload

Popeye the Sailor (ringtone for iPhones)

A fun ringtone for iPhones based on the theme song 'I'm Popeye the Sailor Man' composed by Sammy Lemer in 1933. Popeye has become something of a cultural icon and folk hero for millions of people. Says Encyclopedia Britannica of Popeye: "a pugnacious, wisecracking cartoon sailor who possesses superhuman strength after ingesting an always-handy can of spinach." (460.9 KiB, M4R, 29 seconds)

 1 file(s)  6 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Popeye the Sailor (ringtone for Android phones)

A fun ringtone based on the theme song 'I'm Popeye the Sailor Man' composed by Sammy Lemer in 1933. Popeye has become something of a cultural icon and folk hero for millions of people. Says Encyclopedia Britannica of Popeye: "a pugnacious, wisecracking cartoon sailor who possesses superhuman strength after ingesting an always-handy can of spinach." (464.6 KiB, MP3, 29 seconds) CLICK HERE for the iPhone version.

 1 file(s)  78 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Maritime School Assessment Program (MSAP) 2013 results

This document is from 2013, but it still provides a good perspective on the state of Philippine maritime education. The statistics include the number of 2nd year cadets who passed the 2013 MSAP written exams and school rankings based on the exam results. (341.3 KiB, PDF, 6 pages) See also the 2016-2018 MSAP results for John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU).

 1 file(s)  4 downloadsCategory: Maritime Education and TrainingDownload

Maritime School Assessment Program (MSAP): How John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU) has performed

Find out how the prestigious John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU) has been faring in the MSAP national written assessment of maritime cadets. This document covers the exams given in 2016, 2017 and 2018 (JBLFMU did not participate in 2019). It is published by Marine Café Blog under a Creatve Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence. (474.8 KiB, PDF, 3 pages) See also the MSAP 2013 nationwide results.

 1 file(s)  33 downloadsCategory: Maritime Education and TrainingDownload

Patterson’s Illustrated Nautical Dictionary, Unabridged

This dictionary written by American maritime author and educator Captain Howard Patterson (1856-1916) can be rightly called a gem of nautical literature. First published in 1891, it contains at least 5,000 nautical terms and hundreds of engravings. (21.6 MiB, PDF, 391 pages)

 1 file(s)  24 downloadsCategory: Maritime Education and Training, Maritime History and CultureDownload

Blow the Man Down (sea shanty) by Roger McGuinn

This version of Blow tthe Man Down by American singer Roger McGuinn should captivate all those who love sea shanties. The audio file is made available by Marine Café Blog  under the original Creative Commons licence CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 US. (2.9 MiB, MP3, 3:09 minutes)., See also Woody Guthrie's take on the same song with different lyrics.

 1 file(s)  39 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Blow the Man Down (sea shanty) by Woody Guthrie

Enjoy this popular halyard shanty performed by the legendary American folk singer, Woody Guthrie (1912 – 1967), together with a trio. It was originally recorded in 1941. Click here to learn more about 'Blow the Man Down' and its origins. (2.5 MiB, MP3, 2:42 minutes)

 1 file(s)  61 downloadsCategory: Nautical Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload

Whales and Whaling

This illustrated monograph has a wealth of information about whales and whaling with focus on Japan. Particularly interesting are the sections on Japan's whale research in the Atlantic and Western North Pacific and whales in Japanese food culture . This document is courtesy of the Japan Fisheries Agency and The Institute of Cetacean Research. (4.8 MiB, PDF, 26 pages)  

 1 file(s)  2 downloadsCategory: The Ocean & Marine LifeDownload

Tale of Two Female Pirates: Mary Read and Anne Bonny

Mary Read and Anne Bonny broke the social and even sexual conventions of the 18th century. Both were pirates who rivalled their male counterparts in courage and ruthlessness. This monograph contains two chapters about Mary and Anne, respectively, which were extracted from Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 book,