William H. Smith (1867-1955) of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, first went to sea about 1880. Sixty years later he dictated his sea songs to his son, and the late Edith Fowke published the manuscript (with a comparable manuscript by Fenwick Hatt) as _Sea Songs and Ballads from Nineteenth Century Nova Scotia_ in 1981.

One of Smith's songs is "The Sailor's Way," under the title of "Around the Horn and Home Again." Smith's note says "Sea ballad sung on our old ships, British and those out of Liverpool, N.S."

I've sailed among the Yankees,
Brazilians and Chinese,
Enjoying myself with those dark-eyed girls
Beneath the tall palm trees.
I've crossed the Line and Gulf Stream,
Way round by Table Bay;
Around the world and home again,
And that's the sailor's way.

At night we see the north star,
A-shining on our bow;
We're steering straight for old England;
My thoughts are in her now.
What a jolly time for the girls on shore,
While we are drawing pay;
Around the world and home again,
And that's the sailor's way.

While Ned goes to his parents,
And Dick goes to his dear,
And Bill to wife and family,
And Tom to pints of beer.
While Jack goes to the dance-hall,
To hear the fiddle play;
Around the world and home again,
And that's the sailor's way.