Leeneia-

"the love interest makes the song too complicated"

I can see your point and you may well be right in a general sense. But I've been on the trail of Cicely's love interest for the sailor Dan for too long to ignore such a reference. "Dan" she described as one of her favorite shantymen and informants and there are more poems with his name in them than any other name. In her poem "Shipmates" their relationship is spelled out, and "shipmate" appears to be her word for describing their endearment (see also "Hastings Mill"). It's unclear why Dan never returned after sailing away. However, she describes several ways that he may have died (i.e. "Lee Fore Brace"). But Dan may simply have fled! All of these poems mentioned, by the way, I've adapted for singing and may be found on my website.

I do love to meditate on ships in bottles. For me they represent a Twilight Zone where one never quite knows what one might find -- much more than the sticks, paper sails, and painted sea.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble