Debbie McLatchy sings an American old-time song called Hogeye (I think) which has similar words in places to the sea shanty, but without any of the nautical aspects. She gives the explanation that the hog-eyes were boats in San Francisco that used to bring ashore passengers and crew from larger sailing ships. During the '49 gold rush (in which an ancestor of hers took part, and found gold!) ships crews used to leave the ships to go prospecting, leaving behind many rotten old hulks. These people were apparantly known as the hogeye men. Cheers Ray