Yes, Paul Burke, I'll tell you how. If you read Stokoe's notes as I have published them here you will see that he obtained the published version from John Bell's Rhmes Of The Northern Bards which is acknowledged to be among the first collections of songs from Tynedale/Teesdale. I don't know how much more definitive you can get!

I'm not suggesting that people MUST sing it the way it is written or even which accent to use, the tradition is far too organic to insist on such things. As long as the song is sung and enjoyed by the singer and the audience then it's fine by me. We in Pegleg Ferret have never been purist in our outlook and, indeed, have taken many liberties with the text, and tune sometimes, when we think it is needed.