Sung by Leslie Bane of Northrepps, Norfolk. Seamus Ennis recorded a few sings from him for the BBC archive, but I don't know of any substantive information about him.

Roud 9212. The other examples listed are the nursery rhyme 'There was an old woman sold puddings and pies' which may or may not be related; at all events they tell us nothing much about this particular song. All revival examples appear to derive from Mr Bone's version.

I wouldn't think there was any special significance to the list of colours except a design to sound amusingly revolting.