Ha. It took that one so I'll try again. I have a Burl Ives Album of unknown date,but he looks 40ish, called Down to theSea in Ships. It's on Brunswick LAT8142. Says it's a microgroove flexible record.There is a track on it called Tarpaulin Jacket. I could not believe it! The tune and many of the words were the same as John's. It is described as a 19th century English sea song, with a tune of Irish origin. Perhaps John put it through the folk process, the same as many others do. The blue clicky to Tarpaulin Jacket mentions lancers. Thought they were soldiers.