Hey, neat threads. Been singing this song, among many, to my daughter since she was an infant (she's 6 now)and was singing it tonight; she asked me again what a "curly pow" was. Mystery solved; I'll use the "I'm fond of your curly head" version to expalin it to her tomorrow. (Nice to know the "tirliewirlie" bit too; thought it was 'teary-weary'). Have a nice version on an old tape by a group of Scots/Irish/Boston musicians called "Tit for Tat" that has a variant on the last verse:

When he was chased by the dragoon
That's when I took him in my room
I deemed him worthy of my ruin
For he's my own dear Dainty Davey

Question on the light brigade/Reverend Williamson bit. Was a "light brigade" not a military figure, as in "The charge of the Light Brigade" in the Crimean War? And what does this have to do with the Reverend Williamson? Am not a scholar just a guy in Cleveland who loves all manner of folk music and the stories bhind it. Would love to know. Peace to all.