The tune of this song comes from a shore song, "In Berlin Sagt 'Er (In Berlin, Says He)". When used as a hauling shanty, the pull came on "Seggt he!" It is a humorous song, depicting the cook as a bold shipmate proud of his unique duties.
Despite his isolation, the role of the ship's cook is vital. From Stan Hugill's Songs of the Sea, on many ships, the cook's only sailing job was to slack the foresheet as the rope was near his galley door. Hence one nickname on German ships was "Lord of the Foresheet" (Hein Fockschoot). On many German or Scandinavian ships, he was called, in English: "Doc" or "Doctor". Many North European ships used nicknames connected with grease, dirt, or soot: Smutje, Smuddje̊, Smeerdraak, Smutt, Kokke-fa'n (Danish), Kesselkommandant, and Kokkesmörja (Norwegian).