Yes, I was intrigued by Art's Burl Ives reference. I've never heard that, and I was sure I'd heard his nautical record.
Charley Noble: had a listen to your clip. You referred to it a traditional version. I got the impression you might have Irishified the words a little, but perhaps your source had already done that? It's fascinating the different slants the song can take, which is its magic. It's nearly always ineffably sad, but you make it Irish sad, some make it away from home sad in general, some make it slavery sad.
Snuffy valiant attempts to transcribe Thomas Carfrae's version(earlier in the thread) take the song to a new level of magical opacity!