Thanks for the questions & responses.

Tootler basically nailed my main reasons for wanting a North American version: While I have listened to the Martin Carthy version and the Kate Rusby version (which is, I understand, basically Nic Jones' version), I wanted to know if there was a version closer to home before learning/adapting either or both of the Anglicized revival versions. I have done that with other songs, but it adds another layer of distance between singer and song when you Americanize an Anglicized Scots song, don't you think?

Since I'm going to be mucking around myself with the song, I think I may see how the Anglicized words fit with the Scottish tune Ewan MacColl recorded on one of the Blood & Roses albums.

While we're on the subject of this song, I'm curious what people think about the somewhat different tunes/treatments used by Carthy and Rusby. His is melodically more complex but rhythmically straighter, I think, while hers is the reverse.

Thoughts on any/all of this?