H'day yet again,

I think we need to keep in mind which version (of many) we are discussing. If we talk about Jock Stewart, we aren't talking about a "Folk Song" ... certainly not in the sense that means "It's an old, anonymous, song that has lots of different forms, so I can sing it however I want to".

The Jock Stewart version is a (comparatively) recently written song by and/or about an identifiable person and sung by his family and descendants. To slander Jock by cheerfully accusing him of callously killing his favourite hunting companion might get your rocks off ... but singing it too close to a bunch of Stewarts could have the same effect.

Regards,

Bob Bolton