Of course, it was Churchill himself, who was listening unhappily to some admiral talking about Naval tradition (this may well have been in WWI when he was First Lord of the Admiralty) and interrupting to say "You are talking about the traditions of the British Navy? I will tell you what they are. They are. . . rum, sodomy, and the lash."
And on reading your posting I tried to imagine "Backside Rules the Navy" being sung in the higher register, and falling apart laughing, and agreeing with you that it might not work out too well.
now gotta go look up "gig". Thanks PETE, who misses harpgirl and other natural wonders of Florida