Bell & Dixon's text appeared earlier and similarly without provenance in the Percy Society's "Early English Poetry. Ballads" Vol. XVII (1846), which was edited by Dixon.

This printing includes the note about the "plaintive tune" and "Poor Jack" (1840).

Captain Marryat (1792-1848) gives the whole song (with one or two slightly variant lines). "Poor Jack" is set around 1800. According to the narrator, "[T]his song was very popular at that time among the seamen, and is now almost forgotten." Therefore "I shall, by inserting it here, for a short time rescue it from oblivion."


Chappell's "Collection of English National Airs" (1838) includes the minor/modal tune, the first stanza (with "fine Spanish ladies"), and the note:

"A popular old Sea Song, contributed by Lord Vernon. It is to be regretted that his Lordship could only recollect a portion of the words."

Presumably the fifth Baron Vernon (1803-1866) is meant; otherwise Chappell should have written "the late Lord Vernon" (1779-1835).