Stephen Adams, who wrote the music, was the stage name of Michael Maybrick, born in Liverpool, 1844, d. 1913. Apparently he had a great voice. With Frederick Weatherly, he wrote many songs, including "Nancy Lee"- "Of all the wives as e'er you know, Yo Ho! lads! ho! Yo Ho! Yo Ho! There's none like Nancy Lee...."

See Cyberhymnal for words, midi, biographies: Holy City