The Sea Shanty meme, popularly known as 'Shantytok,' surged to global fame in late 2020 when Scottish singer Nathan Evans performed a rendition of 'The Wellerman' on TikTok. The trend capitalized on the platform's 'Duet' feature, allowing users to add harmonies, percussion, and even EDM remixes to the original 19th-century whaling song. Symbolizing a sense of community and collective escapism during global lockdowns, the meme transformed obscure maritime history into a modern pop culture phenomenon. Today, it is used to represent moments of unexpected unity, shared enthusiasm for niche topics, or simply the catchy, rhythmic power of traditional folk music.