This is one of the rare songs commemorating the high qualities of a ship. The tune is a variant of an old English naval song, "The Flash Frigate," or "La Pique."
H.M.S. Pique was a West Indies frigate. She had the reputation of a "blood ship" especially within the American Navy. Frank Shay gives a version with unique verses in An American Sailor's Treasury.
The Dreadnaught may be the best known of all Western Ocean packet ships (thought not actually the fastest). She sailed under the flag of the Red Cross Line. Renowned for her stability, design and commander, she was built at Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1853, with a volume of 1413 tons register. For her first eight trips, the eastern passage averaged 21 days, 15 hours, and the western passage averaged 24 days 12 hours. The ship wrecked off of Cape Horn in 1869 while under the command of Captain P. N. Mayhew, and the crew was rescued after drifting for fourteen days. Captain Samuel Samuels (and his Newfoundland dog Wallace) published an account of his career in From the Forecastle to the Cabin. According to Captain Clark, the Dreadnaught's fame comes from Captain Samuels employment of an enterprising publicist. Samuels and the ship are also known for an attempted mutiny after taking on a gang of tough Irish seamen called the "Bloody Forty".