The Big Black Trawler by Alfred Noyes

'Bullgine' is a term from old sailor slang, probably a twist on 'bull engine,' which refers to the engine or driving force behind a ship. In the tradition of sea shanties, the chorus line was repeated to help the crew maintain rhythm while working hard. In this context, it acts as a rallying cry — let the bullgine run encourages everyone to keep going, keep pushing, and not to stop.

Yes. Salt water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water — about -2°C (28°F) instead of 0°C (32°F). Soaking leather boots and canvas dungarees in brine would delay ice formation in freezing conditions. This is a real piece of old maritime survival wisdom, which adds to the satisfaction of the old man's boast.

Each stanza uses a straightforward AA rhyme scheme: two lines of narrative that rhyme, each followed by a consistent chorus line. The first chorus (Ah-way O, to me O) acts as a call, while the second chorus (Sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run) serves as the response. This call-and-response format is what sets the sea shanty style apart.

The narrator is a fictional sailor who was part of the crew on the trawler that witnessed the wreck. Now, he's recounting the story, likely in a tavern or by a fire. Noyes is using the voice of a working-class maritime character instead of his own. This approach to character was typical in his narrative poems.

That's the narrator playing it up for laughs, just like storytellers do when they're turning someone into a legend. 'Four score' means eighty; by the next stanza, he's bumped it up to ninety. It’s a little joke that makes the old man sound more and more like a mythic, indestructible figure with every retelling.

The old man points out that God, or nature, doesn't freeze salt water like it does fresh water — he credits the sea for saving him. There's a touch of rugged theology in this: while the sea can be perilous, it also possesses its own mercy for those who understand its rules.

Both poems are narrative ballads featuring a larger-than-life central character, and both employ a strong rhythm to propel the story forward quickly. The Highwayman combines romance with tragedy, while The Big Black Trawler leans into comedy and celebration. Yet the core impulse is similar: Noyes had a passion for telling stories about people who confront danger with flair.

The poem depicts sailors wielding humor like armor. When facing a shipwreck in icy waters, which is about as dire as it gets, the crew responds by joking about the old man's feet. The old man retorts with a loud boast. There's no panic, no despair. The shanty chorus continues to flow. This scene paints a picture of a culture that endures by choosing not to be defeated.