Mike K's chords above don't even vaguely resemble mine when I first put the poem to music in 1973 and recorded same on the album "Sea Songs" while with The X-Seamen's Institute in 1980 (still available from the Smithsonian Folk Legacy collection for any interested.) I've always assumed that one of the "January Men" brought it to Gordon Bok's attention and I was flattered when he called about wanting to record it on his album "Gordon Bok In Concert."

I originally found the poem in the book The Sea, Ships and Sailors, edited by William Cole, Viking Press, 1967, p. 127. It's a wonderful collection for anyone interested in nautical and/or maritime poetry.

Fair sailing,
Dan Aguiar