This song is beloved of infant school teachers throughout England and the author of this note remembers learning it at a tender age. It does not seem to be of great age and can only be traced from the early 20th century onwards. Curiously, the vast majority of the collected version are from the USA: Cecil Sharp found it several times in the Appalachian mountains. Mr Albino’s tune is distinctive.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 1 February 2016