When the bowline was fastened around the mare's breast, William White for a shanty song made a request. There was no time for thinking, no time for delay. Straight from his head came this song right away.
LAST CHORUS : Lay hold William Oldford, lay Hold William White, Lay hold of the cordage and pull all your might, Lay hold of the bowline and pull all you can, And with that we brought Kit out of Tickle Cove Pond.
Not strictly traditional: written by Mark Walker; but late 19th century...
(From this site) Mark Walker was born in Tickle Cove, Bonavista Bay, the son of Marcus Walker of Ireland and Jane (Mackey) Walker of Bonavista, B.B. A boat builder by trade, Mark Walker became well known as a song writer and balladeer--his most famous ballad being "On Tickle Cove Pond". It has been said that he was able to write a song about any subject at any time. Sometime in the mid-1870's he moved from Tickle Cove B.B. to Sweet Bay, B.B.