The song can be traced back to the early 19^th century, when it was published as “A Rake’s Complaint in Limbo”. In fact the song is rare in tradition, having only been collected a handful of times. Mr Merriman’s version is incomplete and does not tell the whole story of a man who spends all his money on drink and prostitutes before being thrown into debtor’s prison, for which the slang term was Limbo. It seems that the song was a warning to young men not to fall into the same dissolute ways, as the original broadside ends:

“So take care boys and keep out of Limbo”.

 Notes by Gwilym Davies 8 July 2015