<p>The bawdy exploits of &ldquo;Barnacle Bill the Sailor&rdquo; are normally relegated to late-night college parties, sports celebrations, and military clubs, but the crusty seaman has antecedents in ballads reaching back to the sixteenth century. This study explores those roots, the modern variants of the song, and its cultural contexts, uncovering the gender identity and social power themes within these widely-sung ribald verses.</p>