It is interesting that a song with such Irish sentiments should take hold in English counties, but take hold it did, having been printed on 19th century broadsides and taken up with English country singers. Songs which tell of cruel fathers prohibiting their daughter’s marriage are plentiful in folksong, and this is a good example. Both collected versions from Gloucestershire are to striking modal tunes.
Notes by Gwilym Davies 28 March 2015