The only version of this song I have ever heard - live or recorded - is on a Geoff Kaufman disc titled, "Fair Stood The Wind." A few years ago we did a "songs of the sea" festival down in Rockport, Texas along with the Johnson Girls, Dick & Carol Holdstock and the Corsairs - much fun. Truth is, I was a fish out of water; but, Kaufman is the real deal. We exchanged recordings and I've since picked up, "Ambletown" and "Old Zeb" from those discs.

Thanks to this thread I am reminded as to how much I liked "Sir Patrick Spens" and that I need to work it up. Oh, yes, Geoff does it without the guitar - just his voice. Go give his CD a listen and see if you might give it a go without the chords too. Cheers.