Sea shanties were traditional work songs sung by sailors aboard sailing ships to keep rhythm while hauling ropes, raising sails and other heavy tasks. Their call-and-response structure and simple choruses made them easy for a whole crew to join, and they survived through folk singing, maritime festivals and recordings long after sail gave way to steam. Online, short shanty clips have become popular again for pirate videos, sailing games and historical content, because the sound immediately signals life at sea without needing explanation.