David W. Bone, "The Lookoutman" (1923), referring to ca1890:

"I should like to hear 'Reuben Ranzo' once again, before I forget it.
There are many verses, but only three remain with me.

      But Ranzo was no sai-i-lor,
          Ran-zo, boys, Ran-zo!
      No use aboard a whai-i-lor,
          Ran-zo, boy-es, Ran-zo!

[Similarly:]

      But th' Mate he wos a go-o-d'un...
      An' taught 'im, nav-i-gai-ishun...
   
      Now 'e's Captin of a Black-Ball li-i-ner...
      An' nothing could be fi-i-ner...

"We were rarely allowed to finish the last verse. and that was a pity, for in it lay the whole substance of the song. Certainly it was only a repetition, but we invested it with tremendous ironic emphasis to call forth an angry and stentorian 'Belay!' from the officer.

      But Ranzo was no sai-i-lor,
          Ran-zo, boys, Ran-zo!
      No use aboard a whai-i-lor,
          Ran-zo, boy-es, Ran-zo!"