If it's any help, It gets a mention in the book "Plymouth and Devonport in Times of War and Peace" by Henry Francis Whitfield(Published 1900)
This does seem to be a shorter version of the song.

Full text transcription Here (scroll to p221)

Press-gangs at Work in Plymouth :    1803. 221

gin shops and vessels by the quays were invaded, every prime seaman was claimed and
lusty landlubbers as well. Each impressor carried " stretchers " — pieces of wood that
were ordinarily fixed at the bottoms of boats — " things just as well in their proper place as
flourishing about a man's head, especially if he hadn't his hat on." Grim were the
scruples of the officers : " Take care you don't use any violence, my lads, but, if the
fellows won't stop their nonsense, knock them down." As the inns were rushed, the lights
were as suddenly " doused." Fierce struggles followed, the use of stretchers was met by
hurling pewter pots, and the raising of bumps found its retaliation in the cracking of
skulls. As the mauled and maimed were thrown through the windows into the streets,
shrieking women and children clung to the legs of the officer in charge. His reply to
their appeals admitted of little controversy: "Who the devil's to man the ships?"
Imprecations and resistance were rewarded with savage punishments. The bodies of the
refractory were bared as soon as they were hauled to the deck, and, after the men had been
tied to the gratings, they were lashed until the doctrine of submission had been sufficiently
enforced. Then, excoriated and bleeding, they were flung below, to keep company with
half-suffocated wretches writhing as the result of similar flagellations. Plymouth was thus
condemned to a state of siege, and the agitation was intense as the impressment continued.
As it was clear this was no spasmodic effort, attempts were made to penetrate to the
country districts ; but these tactics were frustrated by soldiers who patrolled through
Plympton, Modbury and Yealmpton on the one side, and away to Saltash, St. Germans
and Liskeard on the other. Thence the detachments overspread the western counties ;
and hundreds of useful recruits limped footsore through the streets and passed within the
gates of the yard with many a wistful look. Coasting seamen, with no anxiety for honour-
able mention, stowed themselves in haunts of ill repute, when their Delilahs betrayed them
for the sake of the rewards. After desperate struggles, they were bundled out, bruised
and bloodstained, and hurried to the vessels that required their services. There was no
security for any business, and working men enlisted in the volunteer regiments as the only
means of protection. The order of release seldom came in any form, much less in the
romantic guise of the old ballad :

In Cawsand Bay lying, with the blue Peter flying,
And all hands on deck for the anchor to weigh,
There came a young lady, as fresh as a daisy,
And, modestly hailing, this damsel did say :

" Ship ahoy ! bear a hand there ! I want a young man there,
So heave us a rope man or send him to me ;
His name's Henry Grady, and I am a lady
Just come to prevent him from going to sea ! "

Now the Captain, His Honour, when he looked upon her,

He ran down the ship's side to help her aboard,

Said he with emotion, " What son of the ocean

Can thus be looked after by Helena Ford ? "

Then the lady made answer, " That there is my man, sir,

And I'll make him as free and as fine as a lord."

" Now that," says the cap'en, " can't very well happen

I've got sailing orders, you, sir, stay on board."

Then up spoke the lady, " Don't mind him, Hal Grady,
He once was your cap'en but now you're at large,
You shan't stop on board her for all that chap's order,"
And out of her bosom she hauled his discharge !