Nehemiah Adams,"A Voyage Around the World" (Boston:Holt) 22 [ref. to 1869]:

“Every tune at the pumps must have a chorus. The sentiment in the song is the least important feature of it, — the celebration of some portion of the earth or seas, other than here and now : "I wish I was in Mobile Bay," "I'm bound for the Rio Grande," with the astounding chorus from twenty-eight men, part of whom the fine moonlight and the song tempt from their bunks, is an antidote to monotony. The sailors were a merry set. Though only half of the crew — that is, one watch — were required each night at the pumps, all hands at first generally turned out because it was the time for a song. It was a nightly pleasure to be on the upper deck when the pumps were manned, and to hear twenty men sing. When making sail after a gale, the crew are ready for the loudest singing, unless it be at the pumps. For example, when hauling on the topsail halyards, they may have this song, the shanty man, as they call him, solo singer, beginning with a wailing strain :

Solo : O poor Reuben Ranzo !       (twice.)
Chorus : Ranzo, boys, Ranzo !   
Solo: Ranzo was no sailor!      
Chorus : Ranzo, boys, Ranzo !
Solo : He shipped on board a whaler! “
Chorus : Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!
Solo : The captain was a bad man!   “
Chorus : Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!
Solo : He put him in the rigging!   “
Chorus : Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!
Solo : He gave him six-and-thirty — “

by which time the topsail is mast-headed, and the mate cries, "Belay!"