Well we know it was popular amongst officers in the RN, but I'm not so sure how popular it was amongst merchant seamen. 'Good song'. Well, it has a great tune, and it has been adapted to other circumstances. I'll know more when I've looked at all of the sources. The tune has similarities with the old 'Derry Down' (King John and the Abbot of Canterbury) probably of the same vintage. This tune is arguably the most used tune ever in the western world, but you hardly ever hear it nowadays. Fashions come and go I suppose.
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