Actually, the "Chorus" to the beach Boys Sloop John B is the 2nd verse of the Bahamian folksong. Between verses there is a ifferent tune as a chorus, but with different words.

I have seen it in the small Folk book by Hal Leonard, in the same series as Beatles, country and others. I also saw it in the Allan Lomax folk book at our local library.

Nassau Boat song.

We sailed on the Sloop John B,
My grandfather and me.
All around Nassau Town we did roam.
Drinking all night, got into a fight.
I feel so broke up, I want to go home.

There's no other place like the sailing ship,      Chorus
To get an education.
You learn to tar the ratlines down,
While drink up your rum ration.


So hoist up the John B sail.
See how the main sail set.
Send for the Captain ashore, let we go home!
Let we go home. I feel so broke up.
Let we go home.

We carried the ladies to Nassau, Like other sailing boats. Chorus
There were twenty trunk down in the hold,
All filled with petticoats.

The First Mate he got drunk,                  
Broke up the ladies' trunks.
The Constable came on board to take him away.
Sherrif John Stone, Leave me alone.
I feel so breakup, I want to go home.

We eat aboard the Sloop John B,                Chorus
Just like the very best.
But Cookie never calls it food,
He only calls it a mess.

And Cookie he take fits,
and eat up all of my grits.
Then he take and throw away all me corn.
Sherrif John Stone, let me alone.
I feel so break up,
I want to go home.

The words are colloquial Bahamian. I am doing them from memory, so I am close, so no expert, I live in Nova Scotia.

It is a worthy song.