Fowke's version is from a manuscript of chanteys known to William H. Smith (1867-1955) of Liverpool, N.S., typed out by his son in 1940. The elder Smith went to sea in the 1880s:

"OLD ENGLAND'S GAINED THE DAY

"Sebastopol is taken;
Cheer, boys, cheer;
Sebastopol is taken;
Old England's gained the day.

"Did you ever hear those cannons roar?
Cheer, boys, cheer;
Did you ever hear those cannons roar?
Old England's gained the day.

"Heard this song aboard an English ship in Barbadoes. Did not hear sailors out of here [N.S.] sing it, though some may have heard the words and have sung it. It was a song that required a large cew to give it a good effect."