Having been immersed in traditional song for over fifty years has resulted in thousands of song/tune fragments and plots to be rattling around in my head.

In this case, it was an educated guess, especially as I remembered the verse as, "My FATHER was a Spanish Captain..."

What's more, after I posted my theory, my mind started hearing Peggy Seeger's voice singing the refrain, "Always answer the young man no." A variant? a totally different song?

BTW, I think I first heard Oh No, John sung by John Runge.

Pleased to be of service - Tom