这首歌最早是 William Doerflinger 收集的，他把这首歌收录在他的 Shantymen and Shantyboys 中。
Doerflinger 的版本来自 Dick Maitland，他是 1885 年左右在诺克斯将军号（General Knox）上从一个利物浦人那里听来的。Maitland 说：
某天晚上我在甲板上，恰听见一个利物浦的男子在艏楼唱这首歌……没错，那歌正中我下怀！
歌中所述的故事在历史上确有对应。第四节中提及的 David Crockett 和 Burgess 分别指快船大卫·克罗克特号（David Crockett）和船长波杰斯（John A. Burgess）。1863 年，波杰斯首次驾驶大卫·克罗克特号抵达利物浦，直到 1874 年波杰斯在南大西洋的风暴中遇难。
同时这首歌还有一个版本，来自于 Patrick Tayluer，他是一位退休水手。他的版本中没有提到 Crockett 和 Burgess，并且他 1870 年就出海了，Doerflinger 认为他的版本应该比 Maitland 的版本更加古老。据 Tayluer 说，他认为这首歌应该是来自于 1849 年加州淘金热期间，来自一位离开利物浦前往加州淘金的人。
歌词
这里的版本来自于 Sea Shanties (Karen Dolby)，和 Shantymen and Shantyboys 中的版本以及不同歌手演唱的版本都有不同。不过这恰恰是船歌的一大特色。
Farewell to you, my own true love
I am sailing far, far away
I am bound for Californ-i-ay
But I know that I'll return someday
So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But me darling when I think of thee
Fare thee well to Prince's Landing Stage
River Mersey fare thee well
For I'm bound for California
It's a place I know right well
Well, I'm off to California
By way of the stormy Cape Horn
And I know that I will curse the day
And the hour that I was born
I have signed on a Yankee clipper ship
Davy Crockett is her name
And Burgess is her Captain
And they say she's a floating hell
It's my second trip with Burgess in the Crockett
And I think that I know him well
If a man is a sailor then he'll get along
But if not, why he's sure in hell
Fare thee well to Lower Frederick Street
Anson Terrace and Park Lane
For I think it will be a long, long time
Before I see you again
Oh, I am bound away to leave you
Goodbye, my love, goodbye
And there's but one thing that grieves my mind
And it's leaving you behind