This song was adapted from Hamish MacLaren's 1930 "folk opera" Sailor With Banjo. MacLaren entered the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth at the age of 12. After graduating, he was stationed for some years as a gunnery officer in Shanghai, at the mouth of the Yangtze. The lyrics were printed without melody, if they ever had one, but MacLaren noted:
Strictly speaking, this type of song – from the shanty model – is, I suppose, now quite out of date; but personally I like to think that it has some life in it yet, and may note, in support of this whim, that I have myself helped to weigh anchor by hand, tramping round the capstan to music.
Charlie Ipcar of Portland, Maine set the words to a combination of melodies related to Tom's Gone to Hilo and Congo River. His arrangement has since been recorded by several groups including Ye Mariners All. Charlie provides more details about MacLaren's life on his website.