THIS IS FOR SHANE, OF PAGE 1:

Shane, you described a song that talks about a guy whose rope factory (in Mexico) burnt down and who wound up on the USS Titanic with 400 feet of rope (actually 497 and a half feet of rope cuz he "just carries it").

That would be The Legend of the USS Titanic made popular in 1968 by Jaime Brockett.

Actually a story about prize fighter Jack Johnson getting a gig in England and "went over on the boat", and the portion you talk about is the description of the Titanic's first mate.