Members
Current
Alea der Bescheidene - vocals, bagpipes, didgeridoo, guitar, Irish bouzouki, shawms
Lasterbalk der Lästerliche - drums, davul and other percussion
Falk Irmenfried von Hasen-Mümmelstein - bagpipes, vocals, hurdy-gurdy, shawms
El Silbador (since 2006) - bagpipes, shawms, smallpipes, uillean pipes and other pipes
Bruder Frank (since 2006) - bass guitars, electric upright Chapman Stick, guitar
Till Promill (since 2012) - guitars
Jean Mechant der Tambour (since 2009) - drums, piano, guitar, vocals
Luzi das L (since 2011) - pipes, shawms, flutes
Past
Dominor der Filigrane (2000 to 2009) - guitars, German bagpipes, shawms
Die Fackel (2000 to 2006) - bass guitars, mandola, harp, German bagpipes, shawms
Ungemach der Missgestimmte (2000 to 2006) - guitars, bagpipes, shawms, percussion, programming
Thoron Trommelfeuer (2000 to 2009) - orchestral percussion
Herr Schmitt (2004 to 2007) - drums and other percussion
Mik El Angelo (2006 to 2009) - guitars, lutes, citterns
Cordoban der Verspielte - shawms, bagpipes, vielle, whistles, vocals
Herr Samoel (2007 to 2012) - guitars, Irish bouzouki
Discography
Studio albums
2001: Tavernakel (Tavernaculum) Napalm Records
2002: Das zweite Gesicht (The second Face) Napalm Records
2003: Heptessenz (Seventh Essence) Napalm Records
26 January 2004: Erwachen (Awakening) Napalm Records
29 August 2005: Des Königs Henker (The King's Hangman) Napalm Records
3 September 2007: Aus der Asche (From the Ashes) Napalm Records
31 August 2009: Wer Wind Sät (Who sows the wind ...) Napalm Records
29 August 2011: Sturm aufs Paradies (Rush for Paradise) Napalm Records
16 August 2013: Das Schwarze Einmaleins (The Black 101) Napalm Records
14 August 2015: Zirkus Zeitgeist (Circus Zeitgeist) We Love Music
17 August 2018: Brot und Spiele (Bread and Games) Vertigo/Capitol
9 October 2020: Für immer frei[2] (Forever Free) Vertigo/Capitol
Live albums
2005: Manufactum Napalm Records
2010: Manufactum II Napalm Records
1 April 2011: 10 Jahre Wild Und Frei (10 Years Wild and Free) Live CD/DVD recorded at the Stadthalle Wuppertal 15/10/2010, Napalm Records
8 April 2013: Manufactum III Live CD, Napalm Records
2016: Zirkus Zeitgeist – Live aus der großen Freiheit Live CD, We Love Music
Compilation albums
2016: Licht & Schatten - Best Of 2000-2014, We Love Music
Singles
2003: "Falsche Freunde"
2005: "Salz der Erde"
2009: "Ebenbild"
2011: "Hochzeitstanz"
2013: "Früher War Alles Besser", Napalm Records
12 July 2013: "Wachstum über alles", Napalm Records
2015: "Wo Sind Die Clowns"
DVDs
1 April 2011: 10 Jahre Wild Und Frei (10 Years Wild and Free) Live CD/DVD recorded at the Stadthalle Wuppertal 15/10/2010, Napalm Records
13 December 2013: Provocatio - Live Auf Dem Mittelaltermarkt, Blu-ray and DVD, Napalm Records
Guest appearances
20 July 2018: We Drink Your Blood (on Communio Lupatum by Powerwolf)
Drunken Sailor
Saltatio Mortis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What shall we do with the drunken sailor
What shall we do with the drunken sailor
Early in the morning
What shall we do with the drunken sailor
What shall we do with the drunken sailor
What shall we do with the drunken sailor
Early in the morning
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Early in the morning
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Early in the morning
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter
Early in the morning
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter
Early in the morning
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Early in the morning
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Early in the morning
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Early in the morning
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Early in the morning
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Early in the morning
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Hooray up she rises
Early in the morning
The lyrics of Saltatio Mortis’s “Drunken Sailor” is a classic sea-shanty that tells the tale of what to do with a drunken sailor early in the morning. The song begins with a question posed by the crew to the captain about the drunken sailor's fate. The crew offers different suggestions, including putting him in bed with the captain's daughter or tying him to the yardarm. The song's chorus is a triumphant "Hooray up she rises" as the crew finishes their task and sets off to sea.
At its core, "Drunken Sailor" is a work song. It was usually sung by sailors to keep them in rhythm as they went about their daily tasks. The chorus of "Hooray up she rises" was meant to be a call and response between the lead singer and the crew. The song's lyrics are simple, and the repetition of the verses and chorus create a rhythm that is easy for sailors to keep up.
The song’s meaning is ambiguous, but it can be interpreted as a cautionary tale of the dangers of excessive drinking. The actions suggested by the crew to deal with the drunken sailor are both playful and punitive. The captain's daughter, for example, is seen as a reward for good behavior, while being tied to the yardarm is a punishment. Nonetheless, the song has remained a popular sea-shanty for centuries and has been covered by many artists throughout history.
Line by Line Meaning
What shall we do with the drunken sailor
How shall we handle the inebriated seaman among us?
Early in the morning
During the beginning of the day, when such decisions must be made.
Hooray up she rises
Cheers, the ship and its crew are ascending in the morning light.
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter
Confine him to the same quarters as the captain's child.
Contributed by Alex B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.