Steve Gardham

Yes, I do have a copy of Stan's 'The Bosun's Locker', and thanks for permission, the description now is updated, here current description:

"This song was sung as a capstan anchor shanty, especially when raising the "mud-hook". The origin of this shanty has many controversies. Due to tune, form, and "Hoodah" or "Doodah" chorus, it has long been associated with Stephen Foster's "Camptown Races". C. F. Smith claims this shanty came after the minstrel ditty, it is very curious that a new set of words should have been fitted to the chorus of "Camptown Races", while it was still a new song.
The 'fairies', which is of great interest to me as I'm interested in the history of the Port of Goole where many German ships docked (still do). The local girls of the night are called locally 'dock fairies'. There is a TV program on Youtube from the 70s 'Gosling's Travels' that interviews some of the fairies on how the German seamen are much more generous than the locals (thanks to Steve Gardham from "The Mudcat Caffe" forum, for the explanation and story of the 'fairies' word).
"Fairy" was also late 19th century U.S. slang for a young woman.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 107, 108)."

Lighter

Thanks for the story, it is great to know this kind of slang bit, so it can be useful for understanding American chanteys.

Gibb Sahib

This is a great story, very intriguing to me is that you visited Germany and when it was if I can ask?
Also, you pointed out quite an intriguing point in "The Boxing Compass" about the origin of chanteys at all. Very intriguing to Me is the question, where you get access to "Atlantic Monthly"(1858), "Oberlin Students Monthly"(1858), and "Riverside Magazine"(1868)?