Artful Codger-

Your comments with regard to the lyrics printed with THE TRANSPORTS are certainly in order. It's important to know what the composer thought was worth recording.

It's also inevitable that a song such as this will be changed through mistakes in transcribing and by deliberate attempts to improve it.

In my opinion the shorter form of the song is an improvement and some of the new wording works better. But we all owe Peter Ballamy thanks for creating this splendid sea shanty.

And anyone planning to record a version should first secure permission from Peter's sister the gracious Jenny Bellamy.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble