I teach a sea shanty unit to 4th graders. We sing:
Blow Ye Winds in the Morning
John Kanaka
Cape Cod Girls
Greenland Whale Fisheries
Johnny Come to Hilo
Drunken Sailor

I cover my derriere on the last one with a talk about the dangers of drunkenness on board ship and how the fellow seamen would fantasize about revenge!! A minor coloration of the truth, to be sure, but they love the song!