Thanks, Steve - I tried a simple search but found nowt much other than a couple of specific song titles which I could follow a thread on. If you happen to find a broader thread I'll look it up.
It seems daft that the great man knew what the sailors sang but didn't want to put it in print or record it in any way! I know they're not suited to the majority of folk clubs, but singing a bit of The Fireship or Maid of Amsterdam with some of the more salacious verses put back in is great fun and it's a shame that in an age where the language would be accepted more, we can no longer find reference to it.