Another from 1863:

“THE SHIP'S FIDDLER'S INDEX.

When I was in the Isis frigate up the straits, it was an invariable custom of our old Commodore, Sir Thomas Staines, to turn the hands up to dance and skylark during the dog watch; and many a happy hour was thus whiled away; all ennui and monotony seemed at once dispelled. Dancing, singing, jumping, or anything fancy dictated, helped to enliven the din; here two or three sets were reeling and jigging away their hardest –– here, between the guns, was going on a trial of strength; in another part three or four tars might be seen trying who could hang highest and longest head downwards by their toes, on a ratline; but with one group chock for'ard I have now most to do; and here, without palaver, it is: –– 'Come, Jack, give us a song –– summut with a chorus; and while we chant, you can think of the next verse.' — 'I can't sing; that is, I can sing werry well, 'cos I got plenty 'o wind; but just as I clears out, and ought to strike up, either the tune or the words sneaks out o' my mind; and blow'd if I arnt took all abach.'— Then,' said a messmate, 'why don't ye do as the Ship's Fiddler does in a like quandary?' –– 'What's that?' said Jack, 'I should like to larn.' –– 'Why, when you axes him to play, he thinks of a yarn he's got by heart, so made up that one line sails into another; and afore he's done you'd make sure he could jabber all the tunes in the world, in a quarter less than no time; but here he comes, axe him to give us what he calls his index, whatever that means.' And up came the fiddler, who, as requested, at once repeated the following, which was quite enough to awaken Jack's memory: –– 'God save the Queen' and 'Nancy Dawson;' may they never want 'Drops of Brandy' to drink 'A Health to all Good Lasses.' So come, ‘My Jolly Waggoner,' and, as we go 'Over the Mountains,' we'll call on the 'Unfortunate Miss Bailey,' and her cousin, 'Lucy Long,' who wear those pretty 'Bonnets so Blue;' and then 'We Won't go Home till Morning,' but call on 'Captain Mulligan' and Paddy Carey,' on 'St. Patrick's Day,' and get' Biddy the Basket Woman,' to go with us. 'Still so Gently' let us 'March on, March on,' like 'Hearts of Oak,' and call on “The Lass of Richmond Hill.' I kissed under “The Mistletoe Bough,' so often 'Coming through the Rye;' then, if 'The Fine Old English Gentleman,' and 'Tekeli' will persuade 'Uncle Ned' to 'Rosin the Bow,' we'll have a 'Country Dance.' 'Gentle Zitella' and 'The Maid of Lodi' can dance 'The Bath Waltz,' while 'The Highland Laddie' and 'Alice Gray' can show off in 'The Cacoucha;' then we'll send “The Plough Boy,' in the 'Low-backed Car,' to 'Kelvin Grove,' to fetch 'Jeannette and Jeannot,' and get 'Sally in our Alley' to bring 'The Cabin Boy.' 'Oh, Susannah,' tell me. 'In the Dead of the Night,' when 'We're all a Noddin,' Will you Come to the Bower,' and hear 'The Woodpecker,' close by our 'Cottage near a Wood;' for, oh, 'Remember Love,' what I told you 'On the Banks of Allan Water.' 'Oh, Drink to me only with thine Eyes,' for 'Life let us Cherish,' as 'The Post Captain' said, 'When Pensive he Thought on’ ‘Katty Darling.' Oh, 'Don't you Remember,' Miss, 'The Days when we went Gipsying,' by 'The Brave Old Oak,' when 'Robin Adair' said to 'Peggy Bawn's mother, 'Pray Goody,' let me and my 'Young Love,' that sweet 'Girl I left Behind Me,' dance. The 'Tarentella,' for 'The Beating of my Own Heart,' like 'The Thorn' in the 'Last Rose of Summer,' makes 'Home Sweet Home' like a 'Coal Black Rose;' so I say 'Begone Dull Care,' and 'Away with Melancholy.' So will you 'Meet Me by Moonlight,' my dear, for 'Is there a Heart that Never Loved' 'Kate Kearney,' that duck of an 'Exile of Erin?' Do come, and bring 'Jenny Jones' with you, for I know 'All's Well,' particularly 'When the Rosy Morn Appearing' 'Round the Huge Oak.' It will be so nice; 'Darby Kelly,' and 'Sweet Kitty Clover' on her 'Cork Leg' can meet us. 'Within a mile of Edinburgh,' and 'Dame Durden' will sing 'The Bay of Biscay;' then, when you 'See the Conquering Hero Comes' whistling. 'The Canadian Boat Song,' or 'Green Grow the Rushes, oh,' never mind; if 'My Lodging is on the Cold Ground,' the 'Copenhagen Waltz' among the 'Banks and Braes' will soon warm us; as for 'Poor Mary-Ann,' I don't like her — 'Oh, no, we never Mention Her;' but if 'The Devil among the Tailors' plays 'Blue Beard's March,' we'll think of •'Auld Lang Syne,' although there'll be ‘Nae Luck about the House' if 'Paul and Virginia' don't sell us some more 'Brooms, Green Brooms.' Yes, for sure as 'Britannia Rules the Waves,' there will be 'Such a Gettin' up Stairs' — such a 'Clare de Kitchen,' that you won't know 'Who's dat Knocking at the Door;' and when 'The Wandering ministrel' plays 'The Sicilian Mariner's Hymn,' he won't be heard. 'Oh, Dear! What can the Matter be?' said Mary Blane;' if you don't have me 'Jessy the Flower of Dumblane' will; and as 'Slow Broke the Light' 'Mynheer Von Dunck' was singing 'Here's a Health to those far Away,' he fell into 'The Sea, The Sea,' and then cried out, 'Oh, Think of Me! oh, Think of Me!”
[The Merry Companion for All Readers, Merry, 1863]