contextualising the shanties
and ballads we sing

The shanties and ballads we sing are historical texts, sung almost exclusively by men working on long, arduous, sea voyages, principally in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

These songs were born of a time that, when viewed today, occasionally exhibited outdated, stereotyped, misogynistic and offensive language and sentiments.

Whilst it would be almost impossible to present an accurate history on this genre without some reference to this language, The Stranded Wailers limit its use and where used, each example is fully contextualised.

The archaic and unacceptable views expressed in a small number of song lyrics do not represent the views of The Stranded Wailers.