Laurie Lee mentions in his classic book Cider with Rosie that he and his friends used to sing this carol in the Slad area.  Mr Lee informed Gwilym Davies that he had learnt the song at school, in which case he probably sang the version in the Oxford Book of Carols (1928).  The carol is linked to the Cherry Tree Carol, but is in fact a distinct song. Although the carol was printed several times, Mr Smith’s version seems unique in oral tradition. For more information see: Charles Menteith, The Cherry Tree Carol, part 2 FTJ 68, Sept 2021, pp 8-9: https://www.folklife-traditions.uk/index-issues  Scroll down, until you find the issue, and click on Download for a pdf copy.

Notes by Gwilym Davies and Charles Menteith