Pat

The songs was definitely sung by the Menhaden Chanteyman, a I stated (not suggested) above. They fished for the menhaden fish (a fish once used extensively for manure and its oil) and their songs were mostly (I think) used for net-hauling (rather than sails or capstan - the type of shanty you were referring to I imagine). The notes I quoted from the album (also posted above) suggest a possible railroad origin for the song.

Mick