So, wher did Harry and the Tinkers get the song from?

Harry was not against breathing life (sometimes by major transplant) into bits of songs, as is M. Carthy. No criticism implied.

I raised a question ages ago about the origin of the song (not the tradition) Cob -a- coalin, also on Deep Lanchshire.

The song in its entirety does not seem to exist before Deep Lancashire, unless someone else knows more?