This ballad was printed many times as a broadside from the early 19^th century onwards but only rarely found its way into oral tradition and then only in southern England.

The story of the cruel father trying to prevent his daughter’s marriage is a common theme in English folk song and the story line here is very similar to “The Bonny Labouring Boy”. However in this version, love wins through but only after the father has died.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 15 November 2015