OK, different middle name but I have bothered people about this song elsewhere.

I have Deep Lancashire and Harry Boardman's book. I have heard Harry sing it and have sung it myself. I have not got to the bottom of its origins but the Cob a-Coalin practice seems oldish and common.

Harry's song with its collection of pace egg characters doesn't, as far as I can tell, go back further than Deep Lancashire. Did Harry create it out of bits of other songs, practices and traditions?