Released 70 years ago
Down to the Sea in Ships
Burl Ives · 1956
45 min · 18 tracks · folk music
A collection of spirited sea shanties and folk ballads that evoke the rugged charm of maritime life.
Top tracks — play these first
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Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor Start here — This track stands out for its vivid narrative and rousing melody, capturing the spirit of adventure at sea while showcasing Ives' engaging vocal style.
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The Eddystone Light — This brief but poignant song tells the story of a lighthouse keeper's love, highlighting Ives’ ability to imbue simple lyrics with deep emotion.
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Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her — As a traditional farewell shanty, this track encapsulates the bittersweet emotions of sailors returning home, demonstrating Ives' skill in conveying complex feelings through folk traditions.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively showcases traditional sea shanties with strong melodies but lacks deep compositional complexity.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of traditional folk instrumentation, including acoustic guitar and banjo, throughout its tracks.
- Each song typically follows a verse-chorus structure, allowing for easy sing-along moments that are characteristic of sea shanties.
- The pacing varies, with several tracks maintaining an upbeat tempo while others slow down to emphasize storytelling.
- Many songs feature call-and-response elements, engaging the listener and creating a communal feel typical of folk music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pace for sing-alongs
- nautical themes for adventure seekers
- vibrant energy for group gatherings
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- engaging storytelling through shanties
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive albums
- not for fans of modern
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Popularized sea shanties and folk songs, enhancing Ives' recognition in traditional music.
- Career context
- When Burl Ives released 'Down to the Sea in Ships' in 1956, he was already an established folk artist recognized for his storytelling prowess. This album followed his prior success with 'Burl Ives Sings Little White Cloud' and solidified his position as a key figure in American folk music during the folk revival period.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pete Seeger· Woody Guthrie· The Weavers
Tracklist
- 1 Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor Start here 2:43
- 2 Santy Anna 2:38
- 3 The Eddystone Light 1:19
- 4 Haul Away, Joe 3:32
- 5 You New York Girls 2:15
- 6 The Sailor's Grave 2:54
- 7 Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her 1:23
- 8 Away Rio 2:38
- 9 Ben Backstay 3:06
- 10 Wrap Me Up in My Tarpaulin Jacket 2:35
- 11 Blow Ye Winds 2:34
- 12 Go Down You Red Red Roses 2:43
- 13 Hullabaloo Belay 1:15
- 14 Stormalong 2:49
- 15 The Drunken Sailor 2:20
- 16 Highland Laddie 3:22
- 17 The Golden Vanity 3:11
- 18 Rolling Home 2:28
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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