Overview of the Songs and Poems in this Category:

This category contains items that are not included in Shipwrecks or Holidays and Excursions by Boat.

Main Themes and Motifs

There are no particular themes.

Chronology

1800-09
1810-19   106
1820-29   621
1830-39   142
1840-49
1850-59
1860-69
1870-79
1880-89
1890-99

Historical Background

From 1837 the largest ship in the world was always a steam ship and the tonnage un-der steam soon outweighed that under sail.
Between 1815 and 1930 11.4 million people left Great Britain in addition to the 7 mil-lion who left Ireland. Steamers lessened the dangers and discomforts of long passages.
When Cecil Sharp visited the USA in the early 20th century, he noted many British songs that had been carried to America. The arrival of transatlantic liners changed the direction of this musical tide decisively. The regular timetables offered by steam ships encouraged a transatlantic trade in star performers. Prominent among them were those like Thomas rice who brought black-face minstrelsy. into Britain. Black face minstrels remained a staple of British popular music for more than a century and were a particular feature of the British Seaside holiday