trad
From the east coast of Newfoundland. There is a tradition in the Newfoundland town of Wesleyville that Lukey's Boat was written and composed by Virtue Kean (ne Hann), the wife of Captain Job Kean. She is said to have written the song to tease local Wesleyville resident Lukey Gaulton during a community event at the Methodist Church Hall. Supposedly, Gaulton then retaliated by adding a verse making light of Kean's hypochondria.
Well Lukey’s boat is painted green (Ha, me boys!)
Lukey’s boat is painted green
The prettiest boat that you’ve ever seen (A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!)
Well oh, Lukey’s boat’s got a fine fore cutty…And every seam is chinked with putty
Well I says “Lukey the blinds are down”…”Me wife is dead and she’s underground”
Well I says Lukey “I don’t care”…”I’ll get me another in the spring of the year”
Well old Lukey’s rolling out his grub…One split pea in a ten pound tub
Well, Lukey’s boat’s got high-topped sails…The sheet was planched with copper nails