Is the recording to which you refer 'Haul on the Bowline' with
Ewan MacColl, A L Lloyd, and Alf Edwards?

MacColl was particular about pronunciation...is 'gouger'
perhaps the Scottish pronunciation? The rest of the song
seems to be in Scots dialect.

Perhaps you need to haul your OED a bit further north :-)

On the recording I have, MacColl is at his best, as is
Alf Edwards' concertina.

Both powerful, strident, and pumping away at this wonderful
song.