Charley, I see why that "shanty" is unsatisfactory: we cannot really imagine sailors working to it. But then, the words have a parodistic effect anyway.

Since it was my idea, I have to start with a tune to Mike's words. Please take into account that this is the very first "folksong" I ever wrote, and I'm afraid it turned out somewhat sentimental. Some Irish touch is of course required, without imitating the dedicatee. Nuff said, chords should be evident. I'm looking forward to your criticism and your own versions.

X:1
T:My Friend Seamus Kennedy
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=160
K:D
F2|A2A3B|AFD2zD|E2D2E2|F4A2|A2F2E2|D2<C2D2|Ez4z|z4FG|A2F2A2|
B4FB|c2B2c2|dB3zB|^A2F2GB|^A2<F2C2|F4z2|z4FG|=A2F2B2|A2F2zA|
=c2B2^A2|B4B^c|d2B2d2|^dz3c^d|ez4z|z4^AB|=d2c2B2|=AF4D|B2A2G2|
F2z2D2|E4EF|G2F2E2|A6-|A2d4|d2z2AF|G2F2E2|D6|]
w:My friend Sea-mus Ken-ne-dy is not ve-ry tall, In fact, he is real-ly quite short. If a man's ave-rage height were com-pared to a gal-lon, Poor Sea-mus would be miss-ing a quart. But his play-ing is flaw-less, his voice is di-vine, And his wit is as sharp as a tack. And as soon as he's fin-ished and gone on his way, I know I'll be wish-ing him back, - I know I'll be wish-ing him back.