What Is a Wellerman, and Why Is Everyone on TikTok Singing About It?

TikTok customers are newly obsessed with the “Wellerman” sea shanty, but what exactly does “Wellerman” mean? We’re breaking down the bizarre development right here.

There are a lot of TikTok traits that we don’t deal with one bit. Remember when other people were submitting down their tooth? That was the worst. As the video-sharing app has become extra and extra standard, the developments have in point of fact began to run the gamut between mildly interesting and truly horrifying.

This sea shanties development, although? We are all about that one. Chances are you’ve heard some of the sea shanties which have been making their means across the app — you might also have briefly considered quitting your activity and turning into the captain of a send! The most well liked shanty making the rounds is “Soon May the Wellerman Come,” which has led plenty of other people to surprise: What the heck is a Wellerman, anyway?

TikTok’s hottest sea shanty is all about something known as a ‘Wellerman’ — what is that?

Obviously, nautical lifestyles comes with its own special vocabulary. “Port,” “starboard,” “prow,” “bosun” — you’ve noticed Below Deck, you get it. You’d undoubtedly be forgiven for thinking that “Wellerman” is any other nautical vocab phrase. It roughly is!

In “Soon May the Wellerman Come,” “Wellerman” refers to a supply ship from the Weller Bros., who founded a considerable whaling station in New Zealand. When a Wellerman went out to meet a whaling send, it intended that the sailors can be given new supplies (just like the “sugar and tea and rum” within the song). Obviously, that’s one thing the sailors would look ahead to — and that’s why we've got a music about it.

You may also be questioning what the “tonguin’” is in the music. That’s a connection with the activity of harvesting parts from the body of the whale, together with — yep — the tongue. No wonder they had been having a look ahead to drinking some tea. And rum.

Sea shanties are certainly taking over TikTok at the moment.

While “Wellerman” is no doubt the most popular sea shanty on TikTok at the present time, it’s no longer the only one. There’s a complete nook of TikTok that’s now known as ShantyTok, featuring rousing songs and tight harmonies that may make just about any individual wish to head out for the open sea. Which, given the nature of sea shanties, makes perfect sense.

Historically, sea shanties weren’t just a laugh and catchy songs — they had been used to assist sailors stay time when appearing bodily hard work together, making the activity go smoother. By their very nature, sea shanties are meant to convey people into a workforce and supply a sense of community (even it’s simply to, you realize, hoist a whale carcass onto the deck of the send). 

Today, folks on ShantyTok are setting up their very own group via singing along to shanties and adding their own harmonies. It’s basically all the perfect portions of whaling lifestyles with none of the whale guts!

Some folks have even began singing other common songs within the taste of shanties, which has led to one of the most most delightfully ordinary videos we’ve seen on the app. We’re not complaining, even though! Sea shanties have taken over TikTok, and we're one hundred percent here for it.

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