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Glossary

Shanties of Heaving or Pushing

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Randy Dandy-O


Capstan, windlass or pump shanties are used to coordinate heaving or pushing. The capstan and windlass are mechanical winches used for heavy work, such as raising the anchor. Crew members stand behind the bars of the capstan and walk about it pushing the bars, or heave t-shaped handles of the windlass up and down. The shanties for this type of work generally have long verses and long refrains. Randy Dandy-O is an example of this type of shanty. The Mystic Seaport Chanteymen performed it on the recording "Songs of the Sailor."

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