The song is a cautionary tale, telling the story of a sailor who, after completing his voyage and receiving his pay, gets very drunk and has all his clothing and hard-earned money stolen by a prostitute.
The song urges sailors to avoid strong drink and the hard lifestyle that comes with a seafaring life, and to "get married instead".
The Wolfe Tones released a version in 1970 under the title of "The Holy Ground" with modified melody and lyrics, which holds true to the themes of the original song.
Irish artists such as Ryan's Fancy and The Dubliners recorded very faithful versions with the slightly modified title "Go to Sea No More", while other versions, such as the one recorded in the late 1960s by the American folk-rock band The Byrds on their Ballad of Easy Rider album, use the title "Jack Tarr the Sailor" while telling the same tale.
A bluegrass version by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman was released in 1996 on their album Shady Grove under the title "Off to Sea Once More".