What Shall We Do With the Grumpy Pirate?

History & Origin

"What Shall We Do With the Grumpy Pirate?" is an action song based on the melody and structure of the traditional sea shanty "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor," replacing the drunken sailor with a grumpy pirate and the traditional remedies (put him in the long boat, shave his belly with a rusty razor) with considerably more child-friendly alternatives: do a little jig, make him walk the plank until he wobbles, tickle him until he giggles.

The original "Drunken Sailor" is a genuine sea shanty, used to coordinate physical labour on sailing ships, and its rhythm — a strong triple metre with the "Hey ho and up she rises" chorus — is one of the most infectious in folk music. The chorus line itself refers to the hauling motion of a capstan or rope: heave and up, heave and up.

The pirate version keeps all the energy of the original while making it entirely suitable for young children, who take particular pleasure in the wobbling plank and the tickling. The fun-punk arrangement here makes the most of that energy, delivering each verse with the kind of commitment that would cheer up even the grumpiest pirate.