"Fresh as the breezes of that ocean to which they owe their inspiration, the 'chanties' and songs here collected come to us as a most interesting and unique contribution to our literature of the sea. For this volume contains no mere study-compilation of more or less authentic sea ditties, mingled with the nautical effusions of landsmen. It is original in its conception and execution. With one or two trifling exceptions, it is a collection of what may be styled 'the genuine article'--not the creation of landsmen written for or about sailors, but the actual 'working songs' of the sea that were in use at the present time. Still further, this book contains not merely the ditties of our own Jack Tars, but a selection of the sea-songs of nearly all maritime nations, translated and ably commented on, from a literary, musical, and nautical point of view, together with a good deal of interesting information regarding them." --Introductory note.