Here's a description of the song sung in The Pack O' Cards public house in Combe Martin, North Devon, U.K. approx 1836:

"Then there was another narrative of a young person who was greatly troubled

        "Concerning of her own true love that ploughed the raging main"

She sets out upon her travels and is of course utterly unsuccessful

        "In searching of a young man Which Johnny is his name"

At length, having returned home, she is one evening accosted by a stranger who is not as civil to her as he ought to be; she indignantly replies

        "If Johnny was here this night he'd keep me from all harm
         But he's on the field of battle all in his uniform"

The stranger promptly answers in a barbarous and unfeeling manner that he was personally acquainted with the aforesaid Johnny whom he left in a moribund condition a short while ago in foreign parts:

        "And when she heard him say so, she fell in deep despair
         In wringing of her tender hands and tearing of her hair"

Of course the story ends happily by the stranger throwing off his disguise; and then he takes the distressed maiden in his arms and

        "Says he, I am that young man which you thought was slain
         But here we meet in Combmartin all free from grief and pain"

Many other performances of a like nature ensued and were all vigorously applauded."