'Sorry Noreen, it wasn't written by John Tams (or anyone else that we know of for that matter). Stan Hugill has five pages on the song, albeit mostly the Shanty version,(which would turn out to be very long!) But he credits Captain W B Whall as finding it and sure enough it's there on Page 9 of his book 'Sea Songs and Shanties' which was first published in 1910 and he found it in an American book of sea songs published in 1876.

I've been singing it for years as a great 'closing' song and I was originally inspired by the singing of Johnny Collins and Jim Magean.

One interesting anomily tho', the tune is given in the book is given as 3/4 time when I have never heard it sung in anything other than bog standard 4/4. Rolling Home in waltz time....?

Regards