This widely known shanty traces easily back to 1956 or so when Burl Ives performed it. There is one reference in someone's lists that attributes it to a Taylor Harris in 1925, but no idea who or what that is. It certainly seems by its language to be more likely earlier, in my opinion.

Does anyone have any idea where this song might be found earlier? Anyone know who this Taylor Harris was?

Thanks for any clues. Its origins seems lost in the mists of tradition.

A

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Also see Shallow Brown