I thought I had replied to this a few months ago, but must have done something wrong when sending the message, so here goes again:

   Cyril was referring to the Bible story that St. Peter walked on water, though he words he wrote were "old Peter's shoes". I assume that "walk on down that silver lane" means that the sailor would walk in the wake of the ship to get back to his loved one.

Grishka - not being a biblical scholar of any persuasion I can't comment on that aspect, but Cyril was brought up as a Roman Catholic.

Rosemary