I've got a copy of MacColl's recording mentioned by Mo and I've always wondered at the meaning of this song - it seems by far the hardest to understand (with "Cam Ye O'er frae France?" in second place and "Donald MacIllavrey" in third) for me as an American. Can anyone provide a translation from Braid Scots to English and explain some of the allusions i.e. bread, cheese, and girdle cakes?