Shepherd Neame staff record own version of TikTok hit sea shanty Wellerman
Published: 09:08, 09 April 2021
Updated: 10:46, 09 April 2021
Staff at Kent-based brewer Shepherd Neame have come together to perform their own version of a hit sea shanty, made famous on TikTok.
Following the success of 19th century sea shanty, Wellerman - which went viral after being performed by Scot Nathan Evans on the social media platform - the team at the Faversham brewery decided to perform their own version.
The result is Barman, which has been released on Youtube to celebrate the re-opening of pub gardens on Monday following months of closure due to the pandemic.
A spokesman for Shepherd Neame said: "Ahead of pubs reopening on Monday, we would like to introduce you to Barman, a Shepherd Neame sea shanty.
"We decided to mark this long awaited and very special occasion by offering our own unique take on the UK number one hit Wellerman, a sea shanty made popular by TikTok star Nathan Evans, a Scottish postman.
"Our talented digital marketing executive Stacey Young altered the lyrics of Wellerman to reflect the challenges of the past year and our excitement at finally reopening our pubs and we are really pleased with the finished result - particularly the accompanying film, which is a fantastic celebration of our licensees and team members.
"We really hope people enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it."
Lyrics from Barman include: "For many months or even more the pubs were open and closed once more. Out joy was lost pulling pints no more, to the pub we could not go.
"Soon may the barman come to bring us beer and tea and rum!"
The accompanying video shows staff singing and dancing at various Shepherd Neame pubs across the country, including The Royal Naval Reserve and the Old Neptune, both in Whitstable, and the Britannia in Hythe.
Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Shepherd Neame, is also featured.
Postman Nathan Evans, 26, found fame on TikTok by singing traditional seafaring songs, before being offered a record deal and giving up his day job.
A pop remix of one song, Wellerman, even made it to number one and saw celebrities such as Andrew Lloyd Webber record themselves singing along with Mr Evans.
Originally the song Wellerman was thought to have been written by New Zealand whalers about an employee of the Weller Brothers shipping company in the 1830s.
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Sam Williams