After reading that the Bookstart charity — a project that encourages parents to read with their children, presumably so that parents can improve their literacy skills — has rewritten the familiar and much-loved sea shanty What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?, so that said sailor is no longer drunken but, instead, “grumpy”, I find myself a little concerned.
Now, claims have been made that this was not done in the name of “political correctness”. And I would never dream of saying that such an esteemed and worthwhile charity would ever lie about such a thing… well, actually, I would — but in this instance I am willing to take their word for it. It isn’t political correctness gone mad.
So what is it?
Well, it was, apparently, “a case of re-cycling a familiar tune for reading events that were based on a pirate theme”. Did you get that? A pirate theme. Not a local vicar theme. Not a missionary theme. Not even a Sound of Music theme. A pirate theme.
(I’m getting perilously close to calling the esteemed and worthwhile charity a bunch of liars, I know, so, I’ll move right along…)
Now, in my day (not that I was around at the time of these aforementioned pirates), pirates were a pretty nasty bunch. When I was a child, I understood that they did all the things that we good people weren’t supposed to. They robbed, murdered, raped, made each other walk the plank and drank lots and lots of rum. That’s what pirates did. Thematically, they were a bad bunch of bastards.
Which begs the question, if they wanted a pirate theme why on earth would they insert action lyrics like “wiggle” and “tickle”? Purely from a personal perspective I have to say I find the prospect of a wiggling and tickling pirate pretty bloody disturbing, but maybe that’s just me.
(Okay, prepare yourself — I’m about to say it…)
Someone’s fibbing, I think! This was a decision based on political correctness! And anyone who says differently? Well, I’ll shave his belly with a rusty razor!
One has to ask oneself what next. I am well aware that this particular sea shanty has already been diluted somewhat in the past — but the very notion of “cleaning up” pirates surely defeats the point. As attractive as Johnny Depp’s pirate efforts might be, the reality was a lot harsher and bloodier. They certainly didn’t tickle each other… well, not in any kind of way you’d want your five-year-old thinking about.
So either treat the subject with a degree of accuracy or leave it alone.
And if you decide that you don’t want to take my generous advice — how about you try rewriting this: ‘Twas on the good ship Venus…
Gary William Murning Online 
Gees.
If people think its things like that, that cause people to become addicted to alcohol they need to wake up and get a bloody life.
I will quite happily shake them by the collar until they see sense if they so wish me to.
I say we just stick ’em in a bag and beat ’em senseless 😉
For a start the BBC website is saying that this is a nursery rhyme. It isn’t it’s a sea shanty.
Secondly I was born in 1960 in England so pirates were a thing of the past. Not real. You read about them in Peter Pan and Treasure Island, that was all.
But now in 2009 they are real and holding ships to ransom and kidnapping shipping magnates? But I guess this is okay to the PC brigade.
The PC brigade who are they, where do they work? Do you need qualifications? Now there’s a good idea for a fly on the wall documentary.
I imagine them to be insomniacs who in the dark of night think up rubbish and get the absurd corrected.
Up here in Far North Queensland PC is quite rare. Kids go ‘Piggin’ on the weekend. They shoot feral pigs so a few nasty rhymes goes right over their heads.
cheers ERic
I think that’s an excellent point. Another thing that concerned me (and I originally thought it was my mistake until I had time to re-check the BBC article) is that “sailors” in the original shanty are equated with “pirates” by these people. Talk about misleading!
Nice comment, Eric. Your contribution is appreciated.
Nice observation there Gary,obviously that dreaded pc again, or is it a not so subtle attempt at discouraging drinking by not mentioning it and it will go away?. Hold on didn’t i read the other day, that new research showed the consumption of beer may protect against prostate cancer?.
NEWS HEADLINES 2020 “It was reported yesterday that instances of prostate cancer have increased in recent years” A spokesman said “We believe this increase is attributable to the fact that no-one drinks beer these days, we can’t understand why, maybe it is a fashion thing”
Ouch my head hurts