Shanties are the work songs once used on the square-rigged ships of the Age of Sail. Their rhythms coordinated the efforts of many sailors hauling on lines. Much loved by modern sailors and folk musicians, however rarely used as work songs today, because modern rigging doesn't require many people to be working in the same rhythm for long periods.

Traditional shanties can be grouped into three types:

• short haul shanties, for tasks requiring quick pulls over a relatively short time;
• halyard shanties, for heavier work requiring more setup time between pulls; and
• capstan shanties, for long, repetitive tasks requiring a sustained rhythm, but not involving working the lines.

Pilot verses were sailing directions sung to popular tunes. This was a handy way to memorise crucial navigation information. There's a bunch of Newfoundland ones recorded in the Admiralty Court, in London. Hugill quotes one from this collection, dated 1756, which was apparently considered the best guide to Newfoundland waters at the time. It's to the tune of "I'll Tell me Ma", which is still well known.

        From Bonavista to the Cabot Isles
             the course is north full forty miles
        When you must steer away nor'-east
             till Cape Freals, Gull Isle, bears west-nor'-west
        Then nor'-nor'-west thirty-three miles
             three leagues off shore lies Wadham's Isles,
        Where of a rock you must beware
             two miles sou'-sou'-east from off Isle bears.