Nic Jones was once a lifeguard at the Chelmsford Swimming Pool.

Annan Water;
And he has tried to swim that stream And he swam on both strong and steady,
But the river was broad and strength did fail And he never saw his bonny lady.

In 1969 Nic altered, simplified and added to the text given in an appendix to Rare Willie Drowned in Yarrow or The Water o Gamrie, found in the Child Ballads Vol. IV, and added the chorus.
The first half of the tune is an adaptation of The Brisk Young Lively Lad (Roud 2930), found in The Folk Song Journals, and the second half was composed by Nic.

The Drowned Lovers/Clyde Water
And he's leaned him over his saddle-bow To catch his hat by force,
But the rushing in the Clyde Water Took Willie from his horse.

Lakes of Shilin
Down came his mother like one in despair, She's a-wringing of her hands and a-tearing of her hair,
Saying, “Oh my Billy Henry why did you go in To the dark and chilly waters in the Lakes of Shilin?”