Is this the song your thinking of?

SANTIANO

Cho:
Heave her up, and away we'll go,
Away, Santiano,
Heave her up, and away we'll go,
We're bound for Californio

Have you heard the latest news?
Away Santiano
The Yanks have taken Vera Cruz
All along the plains of Mexico, So

Sailing out of Liverpool
Away, Santiano
The winds were up and the holds were full
We're bound for Californio, So

We've a mighty fine ship, and a mighty fine crew,
Away, Santiano,
And a mighty fine man for our Captain too,
We're bound for Californio

Santiano has ten thousand men
Away, Santiano
Sanitano has ten thousand men
All along the plains of Mexico

When I leave this ship I'll settle down
Away Santiano
And marry a girl named Sally Brown
All along the plains of Mexico



Now my version comes from Mcginty's 'Ballads and Bar Tunes' album, so I'm not sure how much they changed it, especially the last verse, and they combined this song with Sally Brown as a medley.

Hope that helps a little. Maybe I'm thinking of a different song.

Steve