I'm making a distinction between the "soul-cake" branch of the Souling tradition, which was quite widespread in the past but which now survives (if at all) as a children's activity like "trick or treat", and the branch that involved -or came to involve- a mumming play and, in north-western Cheshire, the Wild Horse. It may be a misleading distinction, of course, as the songs certainly overlap in content. (As in the Watersons' recording, which mentions soulcakes, and the version in Roy Palmer's book, which doesn't.) The actual "soulcakes" mostly disappeared long ago, being replaced by gifts of food or drink or, more recently, money (probably for fireworks!) In the "adult" tradition (which could get quite violent, sometimes turning into pitched battles between rival groups of Soulers), home visits were largely replaced by tours of local pubs. I'm assuming -and I may be quite wrong- that the old trichord melody belongs with the children's branch, while the very different tune used for Palmer's Middlewich/Mobberley version belongs to the song/play of the adult groups. Most of these songs begin much as does Palmer's example:

"We are two or three good, hearty lads and we are all of one mind
And we are come out a-souling and we hope you will prove kind
And we hope you will prove kind with your apples and strong beer
And we'll come no more a-souling until this time next year."

Interestingly, the version of the Pace-Egging song -from Marple in Cheshire- that Palmer also prints has virtually the same opening verse, and proceeds straight into "calling-on" for the mumming play as does, for example, the Antrobus souling song. I guess the point is that traditions are portable. Mumming, and the Wild/Old Horse, too, really belong to the New Year, but turn up at other times depending on local circumstances. Souling would have been a good peg to hang them on. When I have time, I must compare the Souling songs I can find to see how much they vary (I think I have another three on one of Peter Kennedy's archive tapes). I'm certainly no expert, but you know what it's like when you get interested in something...

Malcolm

P.S. Ed; was it the entire version (as sung by PP&M) that your informant heard in the '50s?

P.P.S. I learnt "Hey Ho" in the Scouts, too. I remember the canoeing story!