And speaking of a merchant marine chantey (I am supposing this is one), let's ADD this to the database -- I collected it at a sing in Maryland, so have no idea of its origin:

THE OLD RED DUSTER

I remember the day that I climbed the gangway,
My new coat and jacket, so clean--
No bacon and eggs till I got my sea legs--
My first trip. My God, I was green!

CHORUS: It's the old red duster for me,
And a tramp or a liner.
There'll be no {brass hat???) navy for me.
You can keep your salutes
And your spit-polished boots.
It's the old red duster for me.

On many's the ship, I've made many's the trip
On oceans and seas, far and wide--
Many ports, near and far, been thrown from the bar.
There's many the young girl beguiled.

I sailed in the war like my uncle before,
From Britain, right down to Bombay.
My little convoy bag, I sailed for the flag,
The glory, the medals, and the pay.

I was pulled from the pool. I was nobody's fool.
There was a jaunt up to Murmansk for me,
But the union said, "No, there's a fault. You can't go."
It's the union forever for me.

The sturdy old tramp's got a foc'sl that stamps.
Her splights are half sprung and they leak.
The food's always bad, and the master's gone mad,
And the owner's a bastard, and cheap.

I've sweated and slaved. at this engine I've raged,
Nursing this cripple along.
For her joints, they're a-creaking, and her glands they are a-leaking.
At six knots, she's racing along.

I've been in the hold in the heat and the cold
All day and all night as well,
And when my time's near, I'll go without beer,
For I've been where it's hotter than hell.

So now you all know why the good sailors go,
Merchant seamen to be.
If you want any more, like what come before,
You can bloody well sing it to me.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 30-Nov-02.