Re: b'y = boy: right you are, Azizi.

There was quite a traffic for many years between Newfoundland and the Carribean - lots of salt cod from Newfoundland to feed the slaves/workers, in exchange for much rum and molasses. However, the language in the song is pure Newfoundlandese. But both English language groups that we're talking about (southern African-American and Newfoundland) have some roots in 16th/17th century English (sez me).

By the way, if you read Thomas Hardy (Tess of the D'Urbervilles, etc.), you'll find some of the dialogue of his rural "Wessex" characters made up of the same non-standard grammatical constructions that are associated with both southern African-American and Newfoundland English (sez me).

There was a study done not too long ago of the English spoken in the community of North Preston, which is near Halifax, Nova Scotia, and which was founded by black Loyalists. According to the study, the common non-standard grammatical constructions characteristic of the community are, as above, 16th/17th century English which has persisted in this population. I suspect that this is the case in many of the older communities in North America in which non-standard English is prevalent.

I don't have references for that study, but if you're really keen to find out more about it, I could go to extreme measures to see what I can find out.

Re: floating verses. Although some of these verses do sound like real "floaters", I've never come across them in any other songs. Maybe we'll hear something from some of the Newfoundlanders on the list ...

Oh, as to your original question - I also have been struck by the similarities you've noticed. I wouldn't read too much into it, though, other than that there were all kinds of cultural influences going in all directions along sea routes from the Carribean to the Hebrides ...