Vin Garbutt recorded this song and I've got a feeling before 1981.
He got help from his cousin Ray Dales in order to work out the very difficult tune - at least it was difficult before they established what it was !.I understand Giok's point of view with it being a little maudlin , but I suppose THAT goes with the subject matter and the actual song content. One of those which Vin will probably introduce as a tear-jerker.