Captain Patrick Tayluer (1856-1948) sang the following for William Main Doerflinger in New York City in 1942. Tayluer went to sea around 1870:
Now, come all you young sailors and listen to me, Sure I'll tell you a story all about the 'igh sea. Well, it ain't very short nor it's not verylong, It's of a flying-fish sailor bound 'ome from Hong Kong.
With your fol the diddle lol diddy, fol the diddle lol diddy, Fol the diddle lol diddy, hay hay, hay, Fol the diddle lol diddy, fol the diddle lol diddy, Fol the diddle lol diddy, hood le dum day!
Now, as we went a-walking down Rat'liffe Highway, Well, a flash-lookin' packet we chanced for to see. She was bowling along with the wind blowing free, And she clewed up her courses and waited for me.
Now, she 'ad up no colors, no flags did she show; She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow. Where she did 'ail from I could not tell, But I threw out my flipper and we're both bound to hell!
Now, into a snug little corner, oh, soon we did moor, Just be'ind the little table around the door. We eat there and drank till we nearly did bust, Then she let out first with her Irishman's roar, etc.
I'll bring you silk dresses and all that I know, Fine gold rings and stones from the islands, you know. I'll bring you home plenty of money to spend, If you'll only wait till I do return.
The "etc." means that Doerflinger suppressed "certain stanzas unsuitable for printing."
A "flying-fish sailor" sailed mainly in the central and wetsern Pacific.