A Classic Homeward-Bound Shanty
‘One More Day’ is one of the best-known homeward-bound sea shanties of the sailing ship era. It captures the excitement felt by sailors who knew their voyage was almost over and that home, wages and shore leave were finally within reach.
Few maritime songs communicate anticipation and relief quite as effectively as this simple but powerful chorus of “One more day!”
Life at the End of a Voyage
For sailors in the Age of Sail, the final days of a voyage were often the most welcome. Months at sea could involve hard labour, difficult weather, poor food and dangerous conditions.
As the ship approached its destination, crews looked forward to collecting their pay, seeing family and friends again, and enjoying time ashore.
A Genuine Working Shanty
Unlike many maritime songs that were sung purely for entertainment, ‘One More Day’ was a genuine work shanty. Historical sources record it being used aboard ship while working the capstan, pumps and windlass.
Its strong call-and-response structure made it ideal for tasks requiring a steady, coordinated rhythm from the crew.
The Homeward-Bound Tradition
Collectors consistently describe ‘One More Day’ as a “homeward-bounder”, a category of shanty associated with ships nearing the end of their voyage.
The lyrics frequently refer to homecoming, seeing land, preparing to anchor and the expectation of payment after a successful voyage.
American Connections
Several maritime researchers noted links between the song and American nautical traditions. Some collectors believed it may have originated among river workers on the inland waterways of the United States before making its way to deep-water ships.
Others associated it with the Gulf ports and with sailors working from Mobile, Alabama, where maritime and river-song traditions often overlapped.
Many Different Uses Aboard Ship
Unlike some shanties that were tied to a single task, ‘One More Day’ appears to have been adapted for several different forms of shipboard work.
Depending on the source, it has been described as a capstan shanty, windlass shanty, pumping shanty and even a hauling shanty. This flexibility helped ensure its popularity among sailors.
One of the Last Songs Before Landfall
Some sailors recalled that ‘One More Day’ was often sung shortly before reaching port. In certain traditions it became one of the final shanties performed before the crew were paid off and left the vessel.
Although another famous shanty, ‘Leave Her Johnny’, often occupied the very last place in a voyage, ‘One More Day’ shared many of the same themes of anticipation and farewell.
Preserved by Collectors
The song was preserved by important maritime collectors including Captain W. B. Whall, Joanna Colcord and later Stan Hugill, all of whom recognised its importance within the traditional shanty repertoire.
Their efforts ensured that the song survived long after commercial sailing ships disappeared from everyday use.
Still Popular Today
The straightforward chorus and optimistic theme have helped ‘One More Day’ remain a favourite with modern maritime singers.
It continues to be sung at folk festivals, shanty gatherings and maritime events throughout the English-speaking world.
“Only one more day, my Johnny,
One more day;
Oh, rock and roll me over,
One more day.”
Why We Still Sing It
- It is one of the classic homeward-bound shanties.
- It reflects the hopes and feelings of sailors nearing port.
- Its rhythm made it useful for a variety of shipboard tasks.
- Its chorus remains easy and enjoyable for audiences to join.
More than a century after the age of commercial sail, ‘One More Day’ continues to celebrate the moment every sailor looked forward to: the sight of home on the horizon and the knowledge that the voyage was almost complete.