My Grandmother used to sing it to me when I was little, circa 1950. She was born round about 1880.

When 'reds' came out - and Diane Keaton sang it (with an autoharp, wasn't it?) - I wept buckets. I hadn't heard the song in the intervening years, and it brought the dear old lady right back to me.

She was already quite ill, when I knew her - she had suffered a stroke and she used to take care of me when my Mum was out working. I don't suppose she could chase after a little toddler who would have been into everything - so I sat on her knee and we'd sing for hours together. The favourites were musichall songs - oh oh antonio, jolson, Jesus bids Us shine, hokey pokey penny a lump, Moonlight and Roses.....