It had basically the same first verse, and another verse too. Try this:

If I had know'd my Captain was blind, Darlin';
If I had know'd my Captain was blind, Darlin'
If I had know'd my Captain was blind -
I Wouldn't gone to work until a half past nine,
I just couldn't tell what was on his mind, Darlin'.

I said now "Look here Cap'n ain't you shamed, Darlin';
I said now "Look here Cap'n ain't you shamed, Darlin'!
'Said Look here Cap'n ain't you ashamed -
You working your poor men out in the cold and rain;
He just woudln't hear a single word I's saying, darlin.


My father was Joseph Decker Harrison, and he travelled around the Folk Festival circuit starting in the Civil Rights movement in the early '60's, and I travelled with him from 1971 to 1973. I might have a recording of him singing this somewhere, if you are interested. James "Sparky" Rucker knew us and sang with my father often.

He explained it was a song to tell the woman why her man had not come home for so long. He also sang other "prison songs" too.