A Black American tradition called “Toasting” is when someone recites, or rather performs, a story about a hero performing some action, such as the story of “Shine and the Titanic”.

Pictured is Rudy Ray Moore, who was a comedian, musician, singer, film producer and actor, best known for his role as Dolemite.

A clean version of “Shine and the Titanic” is given below. Rudy Ray Moore’s version would be too much for a youthful audience but the clean version does manage to convey much of the idea. Thanks to Mona Lisa Saloy for this version from louisianafolklife.org:

Shine and the Titanic
It was a hell of a day in the merry month of May
When the great Titanic was sailing away.
The captain and his daughter was there, too,
And old black Shine, he didn’t need no crew.
Shine was downstairs eating his peas
When the . . .water come up to his knees.
He said, “Captain, Captain, I was downstairs eating my peas When the water come up to my knees.”
He said, “Shine, Shine, set your black self down.
I got ninety-nine pumps to pump the water down.”
Shine went downstairs looking through space.
That’s when the water came up to his waist.
He said, “Captain, Captain, I was downstairs looking through space,
That’s when the water came up to my waist.”
He said, “Shine, Shine, set your black self down.
I got ninety-nine pumps to pump the water down.”
Shine went downstairs, he ate a piece of bread.
That’s when the water came above his head.
He said, “Captain, Captain, I was downstairs eating my bread
And the . . .water came above my head.”
He said, “Shine, Shine, set your black self down.
I got ninety-nine pumps to pump the water down.”
Shine took off his shirt, took a dive. He took one stroke
And the water pushed him like it pushed a motorboat.
I’ll give you more money than any black man see.”
Shine said, “Money is good on land or sea.
Take off your shirt and swim like me.”
And Shine Swam on.
Shine met up with the whale.
The whale said, “Shine, Shine, you swim mighty fine,
But if you miss one stroke, your black self is mine.”
Shine said, “You may be the king of the ocean, king of the sea,
But you got to be a swimming son-of-a-gun to out-swim me.”
And Shine swam on.
Now when the news got to the port, the great Titanic has sunk,
You won’t believe this, but old Shine was on the corner damn near drunk.

Referenced: http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creole_art_toast_tradition.html