FWIW here's the first verse of the poem, usually not sung, as Alan says. I think it gives credence to the idea that the departing fellow--who has the unromantic name of Len as it turns out--is a poet not a bushwhacker. (Thread will not crash)aye W-O

 There were ten of us there on the moonlit quay,
 And one on the forward hatch.
 No straighter mate to his mates than he
 Ever said, "Old Len's a match!
 'Twill be long, old man, ere our glasses clink,
 "Twill be long, ere we grip your hand,"
 So we dragged him ashore for a final drink
 And the whole wide world looked grand