I had to look to see if Curmudgeon had ever posted to this thread, but I guess he hadn't.

As you know, most recorded versions of the song don't have seven nights' worth of verses. Back in the '70s and early '80s there was an older Newfie gentleman named John who lived over on Lucas Pond in Northwood, NH. According to Tom, John knew all seven verses and even sang them once in Tom's hearing (but Tom had probably had a drop taken and didn't write them down). John never sang the full song again in Tom's hearing (and may not even have sung the song again at musical gatherings where Tom was present).

John's wife and children were "good Christians" so John couldn't sing the song where they might find out that he had sung it.

Linn