I have to thank
Brian Kelly, as also for many other songs, for this fine humdinger, dirge of a sea song. Where Brian got this song I do not know. I never heard him sing it and he gave a tatty old photocopy from which source I cannot guess.
The song paints a grim view of life when sailing on a packet ship off the coast of Newfoundland,. Just consider the third verse:
The mate he stood on the fo'castle head and loudly did he roar;
"Come, rattle her in, my lucky lads; we're bound for America's shore.
Come, wipe the blood off that dead man's face and heave to beat the band,
For there blows some cold Nor'-westers on the Banks of Newfoundland".