This is an incomplete, evolving collection of online resources on the topic of work songs. Here you will find links to books, videos and songs sorted by work context. The focus lies on work songs proper (Wilgus, 1959), songs that accompany rhythmic labor.
General Resources
Ted Gioia – Work Songs (2006) @ archive.org
https://edutheque.philharmoniedeparis.fr/chants-de-travail-dans-le-monde.aspx
https://www.rtbf.be/article/decouverte-des-chants-et-rythmes-de-travail-a-travers-le-monde-10752440
Corn Shucking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHGhzwfFOH0
Dengeln
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7h2_0Ctv8s
Digging
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHGhzwfFOH0
Oyster Dredging
Secondary material
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xurvf8Rpvs&t=237s
https://www.scotsman.com/news/us-folk-project-dredges-historic-forth-oyster-songs-2511575
https://scottishcoastalrowing.org/dredging-for-oysters-songs-and-oars/
https://bobwalser.com/category/dreg-songs/
Pole Driving
Austria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7hJ0mqYxd8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3wnxkB1_do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GybuyiBUhYE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBBocKwOHBw
Italy
https://arzana.org/arti-e-mestieri/i-battipali/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYMa7glJi6w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiZUunL5Cbg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJT-9yEYi44
Thailand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Udri3H_C0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QET8XhWKEA
Quarrying of Stones
https://folktrax-archive.org/menus/cassprogs/203portland.htm
https://fi-fi.facebook.com/PortlandMuseum/videos/we-were-recently-reminded-of-this-wonderful-film-by-a-friend-from-weymouth-museu/781612682562618/
Railroading (Gandy Dancers)
Secondary material (with several examples)
https://www.folkstreams.net/films/gandy-dancers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu7hBuhr-Ls
https://www.irishshrine.org/big-pivot-posts/railroaders-and-fascination-remembering-the-gandy-dancers
Primary material
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1O2X890tig
Recreation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8wYEAjOumU
Rowing
Pulling a boat ashore and later in the video singing (and drumming) while rowing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixhKy_QByfs (full film here: https://www.folkstreams.net/films/singing-fishermen-of-ghana)
Coxswain Calls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RGu9kUolkE (race with coxing audible)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GXRY1DbqlE (same race with commentary)
Sea Shanties
Great blog post by the Library of Congress: https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2021/01/a-deep-dive-into-sea-shanties/
Detailed account of sea shanties on TikTok: https://slate.com/culture/2021/01/sea-shanty-tiktok-wellerman-trend-explained.html
Hulton Clint’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@hultonclint/featured
His playlists on sea shanties found in Stan Hugill’s book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVmCbsMzHrE&list=PL58B55DD66F22060C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh9dLm7sl9s&list=PL9182743BD3FD6DA2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EqcDWFVS5U&list=PL1CE70F6ACA19402A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwMBUX5kPrw&list=PL30864020BA60C2F6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaKzDV5Fu8&list=PLE6C6D53217D87989
His playlist on sea shanties and other work songs sung while working:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJpVXZVIkIM&list=PL53A91BE7CAF6DB5B
Sea shanties sung in modern Norway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8s_Z13jEeo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wgedMKGtlk
Tuna Fishing
Italy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY0Me9oD8nQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5vA_wSn-MA
Waulking
References
Gioia, T. (2006). Work songs. Duke University Press. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10207613
Hugill, S. (Ed.). (1961). Shanties from the seven seas: Shipboard work-songs and songs used as work-songs from the great days of sail (New U.S. ed). Mystic Seaport Museum.
Wilgus, D. K. (1959). Anglo-American folksong scholarship since 1898. Rutgers University Press.