In 1819 (or thereabouts) Joseph Lees of Glodwick, Oldham, wrote a song.

Hi did it to raise some beer money.

He went straight round to the local ballad printer with it and persuaded him to print it.

The local people liked it. Joseph and his cronies, realising they were onto a good thing, came up with over a dozen variants, all of which were printed.

It is still sung today.

So, despite the fact that it breaks just about every rule in the folk rule book (even to the extent of its being written for profit) - IS THIS A FOLK SONG?