I've started taking a closer look/listen at this extraordinary song - known it for years, but now wanting to sing it - and would be very interested to hear what others know/think about its symbolism etc.

It's pretty obvious what the song's about (incest, oppression, etc) and I've checked out a relevant thread here - but I'm wondering if anyone has more info about specifics - such as, who is the "gentleman"? (and how does he know so much about her secrets?), or who does he represent? - or is that too literal, and is he just a device for getting the story told?

What is the symbolism of things like the lily/bushes and the well? I could obviously make guesses at these, but if anyone knows or has researched this or has a link to some research, I'd love to hear.

What's the significance of their initial conversation, ie about the "cup", "drinking" (presumably at the well?), etc?

Here are the DT words:

A gentleman was passing by
He asked for a drink as he got dry
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows the lily-o
Right among the bushes-o

"Me cup is full unto the brim
If I were to stoop I might fall in"

"If your true love was passing by
You'd fill him a drink as he got dry"

She swore by grass, she swore by corn
That her true love had never been born

He said "Young maid, you swear in wrong
For six children you had born"

"If you be a man of noble fame
You'll tell to me the father of them"

"There's two of them by your uncle Dan"
"Another two by your brother John"
"Another two by your father dear"

"If you be a man of noble esteem
You'll tell to me what did happen to them"

"There's two buried 'neath the stable door"
"Another two near the kitchen door"
"Another two buried beneath the wall"

"If you be a man of noble fame
You'll tell to me what will happen to mysel' "

"You'll be seven years a-ringing the bell"
"You'll be seven more a-porting in hell"

"I'll be seven years a-ringing the bell
But the Lord above may save me soul from porting in hell.