From the notes to the Penguin Book (1959):

"Most English songs tell a story. However, there are also songs that are merely lyrical expressions of a mood -usually arising from love denied or betrayed. Such songs are not held together by any narrative; instead they employ a number of images and symbols that are combined and recombined in song after song. Thus whole songs may be made up from "floating" verses familiar in other contexts, or attached to other melodies. The verses of I Wish, I Wish are most commonly found either in the song called Waly Waly or in Died For Love. Jazz enthusiasts may be interested in the apron-low, apron-high motif, which re-appears in the Blues called Careless Love. It was also used by John Clare in The Faithless Shepherd, a poem largely made up of traditional 'floaters'". -R.V.W/A.L.L.

Professor Child considered Waly Waly to be part of the ballad James Douglas, and included it under his number #204; this assessment is nowadays less generally accepted.

@love @death @seduction

Other related songs on the DT besides those linked to above:

Waly Waly (3)

Waly Waly (James Douglas)
When Cockleshells Turn Silver Bells

The Water is Wide
The Waters of Tyne

Love Has Brought Me To Despair (DT #824 Laws P25)

The Butcher's Boy

There is a Tavern in the Town

This group is DT No. #320, Laws P24

Additional information in the Forum (not an exhaustive list; mostly contributions from Bruce Olson):

Waly Waly

The Water is Wide

The Water is Wide

Relevant entries at the Traditional Ballad Index:

Waly Waly (The Water is Wide)

The Butcher Boy [Laws P24]

There is a broadside version of The Butcher's Boy at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, printed by H. De Marsan, 54 Chatham Street, New York c.1860: Butcher Boy (Large image)

It would take a really serious flow-chart to explain the relationship between the large number of songs that share "floating" verses with the Died For Love/ Waly Waly/ Water is Wide group. Many appear at first sight to be related. but are probably quite separate. Some examples would be:

Carrickfergus
See also Origins of Carrickfergus

I Know My Love
The Queen of Hearts
Black is the Colour
T Stands for Thomas
T Stands for Thomas (2)

The Butcher's Boy, apparantly a uniquely American variant, seems to belong with songs such as Love Has Brought Me To Despair and In Sheffield Park rather than with Died For Love, but the jury appears still to be out on that one.

Malcolm