because it captures the delight you feel when a sail boat moves.
I had heard it was from Chaucer. Thanks to Project Gutenberg I see that this is at least 600 years old.
Here are a few verses from the oldest genuine English sea-song known.
They were written down in the fifteenth century, before the discovery
of America, and were probably touched up a little by the scribe. The
original manuscript is now in Trinity College, Cambridge. It is a true
nautical composition--a very rare thing indeed; for genuine sea-songs
didn't often get into print and weren't enjoyed by landsmen when they
did. The setting is that of a merchantman carrying passengers whose
discomforts rather amuse the 'schippemenne.'
Anon the master commandeth fast
To his ship-men in all the hast[e],
To dresse them [line up] soon about the mast
Their takeling to make.
With _Howe! Hissa!_ then they cry,
'What howe! mate thou standest too nigh,
Thy fellow may not haul thee by:'
Thus they begin to crake [shout].
A boy or twain anon up-steyn [go aloft]
And overthwart the sayle-yerde leyn [lie]
_Y-how! taylia!_ the remnant cryen [cry]
And pull with all their might.
Bestow the boat, boat-swain, anon,
That our pylgrymms may play thereon;
For some are like to cough and groan
Ere it be full midnight.
Haul the bowline! Now veer the sheet[sail];
Cook, make ready anon our meat!
Our pylgrymms have no lust to eat:
I pray God give them rest.
Go to the helm! What ho! no neare[r]!
Steward, fellow! a pot of beer!
Ye shall have, Sir, with good cheer,
Anon all of the best.
_Y-howe! Trussa!_ Haul in the brailes[ropes]!
Thou haulest not! By God, thou failes[t]
O see how well our good ship sails!
veer - Nautical. To change the course of a ship by turning the stern to the wind while advancing to windward; wear ship.
brail - Nautical.One of several small ropes attached to the leech of a sail for drawing the sail in or up.
- ELIZABETHAN SEA-DOGS: A CHRONICLE OF DRAKE AND HIS COMPANIONS
