A second "folk version" of "The Sailor's Meeting" was unearthed by John Halstead Mead in 1973. It was recorded in 1865-1866 in the journal of Captain F. T. Powers, master of the clipper ship "Peruvian," which made trips between New York and San Francisco.
The language is a little more modern, but there's still something archaic about the song. I've divided the text into stanzas. Spelling and punctuation are Powers's:
Song "THE LOFTY FRIGATE"
As I went a cruising St. Frances Street
a lofty Frigate I chanced to meet
She was well rigd and fit for sea
and all she wanted was her company
I asked her if I could go to sea on board
That verry same day she sent me word
That I was welcom that night on board
I boarded her the truth I tell
I found her bosen had rigd her well
and when I entered her cabin fine
I found her lined with good Venus wine
her riging was made of silken twine
her sales were of satten fine
then I called for a led and line
to sound her well was my design
I sounded twice found the chanel good
I stept my mark and stemed the flood
it was by misfortune or else by chance
our ship she drifted in to france
it was by misfortune as I am told
our ship took fire down in the hold
come all you sailors that cruise those street
beware of this frigate you may oft times meet
for she is but a fire ship in disguise
and if she don’t burn you then dam my eyes.
The opening couplet of this song resembles that of "Blow the Man Down." The pub name "Blue Anchor" in the broadside was a common one.
It too appears in some texts of "Blow the Man Down" - and in the late 19th century "Yarmouth"-style words were often sung as a chantey to that tune.
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