The 'Wellerman' meme rose to global prominence in early 2021, sparked by Scottish singer Nathan Evans' rendition of the 19th-century New Zealand whaling shanty on TikTok. What started as a single video quickly evolved into the #ShantyTok phenomenon, characterized by layers of complex vocal harmonies added through the platform's duet feature by users around the world. The meme represents a sense of community, nostalgia, and rhythmic escapism during a period of global isolation. Users typically use the template to celebrate small victories—humorously referred to as bringing sugar, tea, and rum—or to apply the driving energy of the song to relatable modern struggles and workplace camaraderie.