Despite the supposed solidification of folk songs that recorded music creates, the folk process is alive and well because it's still human ears listenting to human voices. Case in point, the lyrics to this song as posted in this thread. Having just come from a viewing of the movie "Master and Commander", in which a bit of this song is sung, I'm moved to add to the confusion.

This is the way I sing "Old Shipmate" now that I've learned that Jim Mageean got the first verse wrong on his LP. I copied his mistake on my CD "Roast Beef of Old England", and interestingly enough, so do the folks in the movie (wonder what their source was).

DON'T FORGET YOUR OLD SHIPMATE

Safe and sound at home again, let the waters roar, Jack.
One more time with glad refrain let the chorus soar, Jack.

Chorus
Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.
Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound, four years gone, or nigh, Jack.
Was there ever chummies, now, such as you and I, Jack?

We have worked the self-same gun, quarterdeck division.
Sponger I and loader you, through the whole commission.

Oftentimes have we laid out, toil nor danger fearing,
Tugging out the flapping sail to the weather earring.

When the middle watch was on and the time went slow, boy,
Who could choose a rousing stave, who like Jack or Joe, boy?

There she swings, an empty hulk, not a soul below now.
Number seven starboard mess misses Jack and Joe now.

But the best of friends must part, fair or foul the weather.
Hand yer flipper for a shake, now a drink together.


Back in 6/02 Jim Dixon said he didn't know what a sponger is: for the record, it's the person who swabbed out the cannon after it was fired to make sure there were no sparks left in the barrel which might ignite the next charge prematurely.

Now, truth be told I've never seen the lyrics in print -- haven't gotten ahold of Firth yet. Ain't it grand, though, that we can still have mondogreens (sp?) in this age of recordings?

Jerry