Nic went to Child's book and found the song as an "additions and corrections" to, I believe, Child 215. In the original lyric it is clear that the lovers' parents have kept them apart, but Nic left out some verses. Some time in the 1990s, I went to the Child books and changed the song around, leaving out one of Nic's verses and adding back another.

Frank Harte sings basically Nic's version, and many Irish singers like Mick Moloney and the Voice Squad picked it up from him. I was in a singing circle with Frank once and someone asked me to sing it. Later, I asked Frank how he liked my version. His answer was vintage Frank:

"Sure, I like me own better!"