here's a version from Maine which appears in our new book "Bygone Ballads of Maine- Volume 1- Songs of Ships & Sailors" now available from Loomis House Press. The tune is completely different than the others.

The Sailor Song
(aka The Basket of eggs/ Bung Yer Eye/Yump in your eye)
Sung by Mrs.Sadie Murphy Harvey of Monticello Maine September 30, 1941 Marguerite Olney Collector; Helen Hartness Flanders Collection

In Chamberlain Street two sailors were walking
Their pockets being lined with gold
As these two sailors together were talking
A pretty fair damsel they did behold

One of the sailors spied a basket
As she sat down to take her ease
And offering to carry it one of them ask-ed her
Her kind answer was "Yes, if you please"

One of the sailors picked up the basket
"It's full of eggs I pray you take care
And if by chance you should overwalk me
At the halfway house, pray leave them there"

The halfway house was soon walked to
The halfway house was soon passed by
But still this fair maiden she stepp-ed on lightly
And on the sailors cast her eye

These two sailors called into an ale house
They called for beer and a glass of wine
Saying "Oh what foes women are in this country-
A woman has left her eggs behind"

"Pray tell the landlord to bring on some bacon
For we have eggs all for to broil (boil?)."
But when this young sailor he opened the basket
Instead of the eggs he found a young child

One of the sailors set down to fretting
"To fret," said the other "It is all in vain
Here's fifty bright guineas I'll give to the maiden
If any women it will obtain

A woman standing by the fire
To hear what the sailors would have to say
Said, "I'll take the baby as soon as its mother
If down the money you will pay"

He paid her over and down the money
"You see, kind sir, I hope I'm free
But to tell you the truth without further conclusion
The daddy of the child you be."

"If this be you, my lovely Nancy,
That I danced with last Easter Day--"
"Oh yes, then, kind sir, and since you've had your fancy,
Oh now the fiddler you have paid."