I remember an A.L. Lloyd amd Ewan MacColl doing a song where a verse goes something like: "And who you think was the skipper of her/ row, boys, row/ Why, Bully Hayes, the nigger lover..."

>>But we have recently had a problem with someone who is objecting to much milder terms--specifically "yellow gals"--which most of us do not consider similarly offensive.<<

That's what I'm talking about. It's only bad when it's directed at dark people. It's okay to mock their race when they're lighter.

>>it's not clear if the singer is describing black, Asian or Latino girls. And often it's used along the lines of "Those yellow gals I do adore, with their shining eyes and long black hair," or something similar, which makes it sound merely descriptive, as well as admiring.<<

White men who speak such sentiments are known in the Asian-American community as "asiaphiles" and they are considered the lowest of the low and for good reason--they chase after any Asian girl and I mean ANY Asian girl. I've had white guys tell me how they lust after "Asian pussy" and expect to find that flattering. I'll never let you bastards near my daughter knowing what I know.

>>And of course a sailor who'd been at sea for a couple of years would have also admired green or purple gals. Any thoughts?<<

That's true but unfortunately a huge number of white men feel and TALK that way who've never spent a day at sea. Methinks you're rationalizing blatant racism in these songs because you love singing them. I'm a shanty fan also (and a sailor) but I won't sing those kinds--never.