I shall reserve final judgement until I hear a good rendition, but from reading alone it is the ending of the traditional verses that seems to fall dramatically flat. However, a song is not a poem, to be read "cold".

I still think that as long as the original is still in existence and sung then no harm is done.

This leads perhaps to questions about songs changing to meet the times: nowadays we expect women to be strong, and more in charge of their own destiny. Which is not entirely absent from traditional song, surely, but perhaps such songs are more to peoples' tastes nowadays?

However, the new ending has not sprung whole-heartedly out of the 21st century, but in concept is a straight lift from (for example) Jock o'Hazeldean. I feel it makes more sense of some of the elements: the sending of the tokens are not merely for remembrance, but a sharp message "Here's part of me, if you want the rest get a move on!" That's my interpretation, I hasten to add, I'm not suggesting it was Eileen McGann's.