This is #3C in the Child cannon. According to Child, the ballad was
"Obtained by Mr Macmath from the recitation of his aunt,
Miss Jane Webster, formerly of Airds of Kells, Stewartry of
Kirkudbrightshire, Galloway, who learned it many years ago from the
wife of Peter McGuire, then cotman at Airds". Child has it in the
"Additions and Corrections" section in volume I, rather than as part of
the main entry.
The air is attributed to a Miss M. Macmath, of whom I can find no
further
details. I assume she is related to the aforementioned Mr. Macmath.
Note - with regards the text, after the first verse, Child leaves
out the two chorus lines (2nd and 4th) in subsequent verses. I have
added them back in again.
