In Kenneth MacLeod's book, "The Road To The Isles" (Grant & Murray, 1927) the author says of this song: "Written for the lads in France during the Great War". He goes on to say, "The track referred to here led in the old days from the Northern Isles to the Cattle Trysts of Falkirk and Carlisle. Traditionally, watercress is regarded as both food and drink; it is said to have been the food of the pilgrims on their way to Iona." He is generally quite scrupulous in differentiating between traditional material and his own composition, so presumably the text is his own and not a translation.

Malcolm