A Lively Song of Sailor Life Ashore
‘New York Girls’ is one of the most popular songs in the maritime music tradition. Unlike many work shanties that focused on hauling ropes or turning capstans, this song tells the story of a sailor's adventures while ashore in New York.
Its humour, memorable chorus and vivid storytelling have helped it remain a favourite among folk singers and sea-shanty groups for generations.
Nineteenth-Century Origins
The song emerged during the nineteenth century when New York was one of the world's busiest ports. Thousands of sailors passed through the city every year, creating a rich tradition of songs about life in port.
As with many traditional songs, no single author is known and numerous versions developed over time through oral tradition.
New York and the Age of Sail
During the great age of merchant sailing ships, New York served as a major centre for international trade. Sailors arriving after months at sea often spent their wages in boarding houses, taverns and entertainment districts near the waterfront.
Many maritime songs reflected these shore-side experiences, and ‘New York Girls’ is among the best-known examples.
“Can't You Dance the Polka?”
The song is sometimes known by its famous refrain “Can't You Dance the Polka?”. This reference reflects the popularity of social dancing during the nineteenth century and adds to the song's lively character.
The repeated chorus made it particularly easy for groups of sailors to join in while singing informally onboard ship or ashore.
Ballad or Shanty?
‘New York Girls’ occupies an interesting place in maritime music. Some singers treat it as a forebitter or recreational sea song, while others perform it as a capstan shanty.
Because sailors often adapted songs to suit different tasks, it is not unusual to find the same song classified in several ways.
Collected by Maritime Researchers
Versions of the song were recorded by maritime collectors during the twentieth century, helping preserve a piece of sailor culture that might otherwise have been lost.
Researchers including Stan Hugill documented variants of the song and helped secure its place in modern sea-song repertoires.
A Window into Sailor Culture
Many sea songs focus on storms, ships and hard labour. ‘New York Girls’ offers a different perspective by highlighting the social life of sailors while ashore.
Through humour and storytelling, it provides a glimpse into the experiences of ordinary seafarers during the great era of international sailing ships.
A Favourite in the Modern Revival
The song remains popular at maritime festivals, folk clubs and sea-shanty events. Its strong chorus and audience participation make it particularly effective when performed live.
Today it is heard around the world and remains one of the most recognisable songs associated with the port of New York.
“As I walked down through Chatham Street,
A fair maid there I happened to meet...”
Why We Still Sing It
- It captures the social side of sailor life ashore.
- It preserves memories of nineteenth-century New York waterfront culture.
- Its chorus encourages audience participation.
- It remains one of the best-loved songs in the maritime repertoire.
More than a century after it first circulated among sailors, ‘New York Girls’ continues to entertain audiences with its humour, energy and insight into life during the Age of Sail.