Albert J. Porter, "Drift from the Seven Seas," San Francisco Chronicle (June 18, 1911), p. 29:

"If a ship was idling in a calm, the sailors would whistle 'Blow the Men Down,' believing that a breeze would respond. With the sails trimmed to the first faint airs, the watch would sing:

Oh, blow the men down, bullies, blow the men down,
    Give me some time to blow the men down.
Oh, blow the men down on board of this craft,
For blow the men down is the word from aft.
As I was a walking down South Castle sreet,
A cheeky policeman I chanced for to meet.
He opened his gob, and he gave me some jaw,
And I laid him out stiff with my Erin go bragh.
I up with my helm and ran for Lime street,
And there an old skirt-rigged craft I did meet.
'Oh, Jack,' says she, 'will you stand me a treat?'
'Oh, yes, my dear, when next we meet.'
She up with her fist, and she knocked me down.
'I'll show you,' she said, 'how to blow the men down.'"