Interestingly the well-known version by the Dubliners seems to follow the broadside version (almost)

However I did have a book with another verse ( a new 2 or 3 cannot exaclty remember which:

the Steam coach was at hand the driver said he'd cheap ones,
But the luggage van was too much for me ha'pence,
For England I was bound, 't would never do to balk it
for every step of the road bedad says I, I'll walk it,
I did not sigh or moan until I reached Athlone,
A pain in my shinbone.........................
..................................................

And there my memories fail me I am afraid.

So where did that come from?

I also remembering reading somewhere that this song used to send babies asleep..........(!!) and that an=one applying for a job as a nannyu needed to know this song.


Regards,

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk