All recorded versions are fairly similar, suggesting that this balladlike chantey was pretty well standardized from the beginning.

J. A. Barry, “Deep Sea Chanties,” Evening News (Sydney) (Dec. 19, 1903), p. 4:

“…No article on deep sea chanties would be complete without some reference to the wonderful story of Reuben Ranzo— a favorite even at the present day, when ship songs are out of fashion and obsolete, and one to which an odd 'four-poster' will still be found hoisting her upper-topsail yards. There are at least a score of versions. Probably, the best of them runs as follows:—

Solo— Hurrah for Reuben Ranzo,
Chorus— Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!
Solo — Oh, Ranzo was no sailor.

"Omitting the chorus, which is always the same, the story proceeds: —

Ranzo was no sailor.
Ranzo was a tailor.

Ranzo joined the Beauty,
And did not know bis duty.

His skipper was a dandy.
And was too fond of brandy.

He called Ranzo a lubber.
And made him eat whale blubber.

They set him holy-stoning
And cared not for bis groaning.

They gave him lashes twenty,
Nineteen more than plenty.

Reuben Ranzo fainted.
His back with oil they painted.

They gave him cake and whisky,
Which made him rather frisky.

They made him the best sailor.
Sailing on that whaler.

They put him navigating,
And gave him extra rating.

Ranzo is now a skipper
Of a China clipper.

Ranzo was once a tailor.
Now he is a sailor."