Malcolm: The impression I got from the woman concerned was that, yes, she had sung the 'combined' version in the '50s. I'd come across the Ravenscroft 'Hey ho' and was interested to know her source for the combination.

She may of course have misunderstood my question, and memory (both her's and mine) isn't the most exact of sciences, so I can't say for certain.

Unfortunately, I'm not in contact with her so can't check.

I know nothing about Peter, Paul and Mary but were they apt to change and mesh traditional songs to suit their purposes?

I'm not saying that PPM didn't originate this combined version, but given the similarity of tune, it would seem just as likely that the two songs were fused earlier through the oral tradition. Id be very interested to know. Anyone have Peter, Paul or Mary's email? :-)

I know little about children's songs, but given the preponderance of the minor 3rd interval in children's rhymes and chants, your suggestion regarding the Waterson version makes sense.

On a different, but related, question, it facinates me how verses 'float' between these seasonal songs but don't seem to appear elsewhere in the tradition. A topic for another thread, I suppose.

Ed

PS I'll try not to get quite so annoyed at the 'trick or treat' children this year for following an imported US custom. Maybe we've just reimported it...