Old Cole and Young Cole,
Cole and Son, blacksmiths to the gentry,
They'll block yer daughter's entry!

Does this shepherd version predate all the blacksmith versions?

The Envied Sheppherd (Madden Collection c1790)

A Shepherd of pleafure,
Being void of all care,
With his Bottle and his Buget,
So well does he fare,
Green Wellow Green Willow,
Green Willow Willow Willow,
And he Alays(sic) upon his Bag pipes,
Made of the Green Willow.

But if I fhould meet with,
This young Sheepherd's Wife,
I will make him a Cuckold,
All days of his Life,
Green Willow &c.

But if I fhould meet,
With his Flock upon the Plain,
I will fend my Little Bog dog,
For to fetch them back again,
Green Willow &c.

When we meet in the Field,
We'll Drink till we'er mellow,
And he that Drinks moft,
I(s) a Jolly brave Fellow,
Brave Fellow brave Fellow,
Brave Fellow Fellow Fellow,
And he that Drinks moft,
Is a Jolly Brave Fellow.

Lucy Broadwood had a lot to say on the matter in English County Songs. In a note she said that 'foal' and 'colt' are alternatives to 'Cole'.
Whilst leather bellows are indeed bound with green willow at the nozzle to protect them from the fire, looking at the shepherd version I am now wondering if some English pipes could have been made from green willow. Any pipesmiths out there tuning in? Perhaps the pithy withy was ideal for making a chanter with its soft centre.

Baring Gould claims to have collected a folktale about King Alfred and a blacksmith which claims to be the origin of the blacksmith version. It 'was taken down in 1883 by E Young from a poor fellow of Steyning in deep decline'.