Drunken Sailor

Drunken Sailor is one of the traditional sea shanties included on the official Windrose Original Soundtrack. It is one of the most widely known sea shanties in the real-world repertoire and was chosen as the game's centerpiece trailer track for the February 2026 Steam Next Fest remaster.

On the Soundtrack

The track appears on the Windrose: Original Soundtrack (Steam App 4564200), released alongside the April 14, 2026 Early Access launch. Vocals are performed by Sean Dagher, a Montreal shantyman well known for recording age-of-sail vocal performances. Arrangements are by the Kraken Express audio team, produced in house. The recording is a traditional, public-domain shanty, so no licensing fee is owed for the song itself.

Origin

"Drunken Sailor" is a traditional capstan shanty also known as "What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?" Its origins trace to the early 1800s British and American merchant marine. It survived into popular culture as one of the best-recognized maritime tunes worldwide.

In-Game

Triggered at the ship's helm by pressing B while under sail. NPC crew members on deck join the vocals while you steer between islands. Shanties pause when combat begins (naval cannons take priority) and resume once the engagement ends.

Notes

• Features in both a shorter trailer version and the full OST version.

• Was the backing track for the February 22, 2026 remastered trailer that coincided with Windrose crossing 1 million Steam wishlists.

• Re-emerged in popular culture during the TikTok sea-shanty trend of 2021, giving it broad recognition with new audiences.

Drunken Sailor is one of several traditional tracks on the soundtrack. Other shanties you can trigger at the helm include Whiskey Johnny, Leave Her Johnny, Blow the Man Down, Rolling Down to Old Maui, Good Morning Ladies, and The British Tars. The full set is catalogued under Sea Shanties.

See Also

• Sea Shanties broader shanty system

• Sean Dagher vocalist

• Naval Combat why shanties pause

• NPC Crew the crew that sings