Jim, everyone is entitled to take from folk song what they want. It just so happens an awful lot of people like to know where their favourite music has come from and how it evolved. You don't. No problem. Nothing to do with academia.

Murray. First of all the structure does not match up with our typical folk ballad structure. Can you think of another folk song that matches this one in structure? There might be a few but I would contend they also probably come from the theatre or glee clubs.

Secondly, for me at least the extended 'below-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow' is much more typical of a glee or a theatrical piece.

'musicologically technical'! You've got the wrong bloke.