Q, one site ("The Balladeers") attributes the words to P.J. McCall, who (another site says) also wrote "Follow Me Up to Carlow."

Again, sorry, at work, no time to take this further right now. Maybe tonight.

Gibb Sahib, I have a question out to my singin' partner about where we first heard the fast, minor-key version. That was maybe 30 years ago, and I just can't recall. Hope Jon has a better memory! Funny how clearly I remember Shirley Collins singing the slow, major one. Maybe because it was such an odd take on the chantey form.