Drunken Sailor” is a sea shanty, also known as “What Shall We Do with a/the Drunken Sailor?

 

The shanty was sung to keep the men in time and this song was used for brisk and quick tasks.

When ships became bigger, especially on military ships which held lots of men, the need for sea shanties became less common and only used for minor tasks. 

‘What shall we do with a drunken sailor’