Thanks Joe.

All I was saying was that I tend to believe Larry, apart from one thing which I will address. Remember, with folk music, if it makes sense it is about someone dying. If it doesn't make sense it is about sex:-)

The only argument I would have with Larry's theory is that it seems more likely to be a euphomism for the penis rather than the hand. The 'eye' and 'cotton' make more sense. The 'beating' of Joe becomes another euphomism. Daddy had a man called... ditto. And it explains why the ladies liked to dance with him! Where did you come from, where did you go becomes perfectly clear and so on.

Yes?