2021 / Video / TikTok duet and communal singalong
The Wellerman Sea-Shanty Wave
“Soon may the Wellerman come” introduced a brief period of widespread online sea-shanty harmonies.
The original is hosted off-site; this page provides context and a link to it.
What was this?
The song’s call-and-response structure suited TikTok’s duet feature. As users added voices, the platform filled with sea shanties, nautical costumes, and renewed interest in maritime folk music.
Why it spread
The first clips jumped from TikTok to Twitter, YouTube, streaming charts, news coverage, and official releases. Evans’s version became a global hit while ShantyTok briefly made group singing feel like a native social-media format.
What happened
The song’s call-and-response structure suited TikTok’s duet feature. As users added voices, the platform filled with sea shanties, nautical costumes, and renewed interest in maritime folk music.
Where it came from
Scottish singer Nathan Evans posted himself singing the traditional New Zealand whaling song “Wellerman” on TikTok in late 2020. People began adding harmonies through duets, turning one voice into a rolling remote choir.
Why it mattered
Wellerman showed how people could make collaborative music while separated during the pandemic.
How it spread
The first clips jumped from TikTok to Twitter, YouTube, streaming charts, news coverage, and official releases. Evans’s version became a global hit while ShantyTok briefly made group singing feel like a native social-media format.
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