Thanks for that. It's clear that tunes were appropriated to fit a variety of lyrics. I was hoping to find a site that actually played the tune, as I did with 'Tom Bowling', but no luck.
Naval/military songs and shanties are an interesting social history 'niche' all of their own. Originally used to establish a rhythm when working, and also for relaxation, they now provide illuminating glimpses of everyday life at sea 'with singular vividness and realism.....and supply a life and colour which is lacking from formal records of administration and official letters'.... a quote from the link below which has an informative introduction and a wide variety of sea songs of varying moods. I hadn't realised, for example, that shanties were largely a British/American/Canadian tradition, since continental navies frowned on singing at sea. It's interesting to note too, that songs about going to sea were sung on the outward 'leg' and songs about returning home were only sung on the return 'leg'.
http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/sea-s ... shanty.htm
Maybe the discovery of a woman in disguise aboard was a rare and surprising occurrence that caused it to be marked in song? Here's another one:
THE FEMALE LIEUTENANT; OR, FAITHLESS LOVER REWARDED.
William was a youthful lover,
William lov'd a lady fair ; ;
Bells did ring and birds did sing,
As to the church they did repair.
Then came twenty brisk young sailors,
Drest in grand and rich array ;
Instead of William being married,
Prest he was and sent away.
Soon his true love follow'd after,
By the name of William Carr ;
Her soft hands and milk-white fingers,
All were smear'd with pitch and tar.
Now behold the first engagement,
Bold she fought among the rest;
Her jacket open, void of danger,
All expos'd her snow-white breast.
When the captain came to hear it,
He said, ' What wind has brought you here ?'
' Kind sir, I came to find my true love,
Him you prest I love so dear.'
' If that you came to find your true love,
Tell to me his name, I pray ?'
' Brave sir, they call him William Taylor,
Him you prest and forc'd away.'
' If William Taylor is your true love
He is both cruel and severe,'
For rise up early in the morning1
You shall see him and his lady fair.
' For he some days ago was wedded
And lives upon the Isle of Man,
And with his beauteous bride has bedded
A truth that none deny it can.'