ShantyBot

February 5, 2021 8:42 AM

Markov chain sea shanties. Generated hourly. Data source.
posted by brownpau (5 comments total)

Another ancient and honorable profession is de-skilled by software. This needs to end now.
Workers of the World, Unite. You have nothing to lose but your Markov chains!
posted by thatwhichfalls at 9:04 AM on February 5, 2021 [6 favorites]

Some are a bit tough to meter, but this one would fool me:


That ship for India or Japan.
Boney was a tailor
Oh, a night with the whiskey can
All on a Dundee whaler

At her, boys, and Liverpool bred
When you're bound to go!
Her eyes are like the rosebuds red
And a long time ago.
posted by meinvt at 9:35 AM on February 5, 2021 [2 favorites]

This speaks directly to my twin interests in pirate songs and procedurally-generated text, thanks!
posted by aspersioncast at 1:21 PM on February 5, 2021

If bots are your jam be sure and follow Bots of New York on the Facebook.
posted by misterpatrick at 3:00 PM on February 5, 2021

Oh, Boston's a fine little man was he
I'll sail away to sea.
And if should be I come home from sea
My young man was he


No human would be brave enough to rhyme sea with he whilst simultaneously rhyming he with sea in an A-B-A-B scheme. But Markov has the guts.

Bonus points for the mid-phrase homophone in the third line.

I'd sing this.
posted by meinvt at 7:33 PM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]