My grandfather used to sing me this song. He was a fisherman in Ramsgate, Kent who lost 3 brothers at sea. I sing it to my grandchildren. I only know the one verse.

“Seagull Seagull fly away over the sea
Seagull seagull please send a message for me
If you should see a big ship sailing o’er the foam
Tell my daddy that his little boy is waiting for him at home”

There are a few of these rhymes that I have embedded in my brain with no clear origin or in some cases, meaning.

For example:
“Tomorrow’s the day when he walks through the city
With his hands tied behind him, old ladies take pity
It’s a rare and Bonny lassie from the east to st Patrick
That could not entice poor little Jimmy Murphy from the green and mossy banks
Of John skin your monkey fluff your doodle day do Ray
For a riddlaido for a doe day”

Or

“Tap tap tapping at your window
I spy a Bobby at the door
If you let him in then I’ll punch your eye in
And you won’t see your daddy anymore”


- Chris