Bugsy

The "original" version was collected from Sam Larner, Norfolk, England (in 1953 I think) by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger and published in their book "This Singing Island", 1960. It wasn't that kind of song then.

It was used and popularised in the '60s by "The Dubliners" who made it into a hit single. Hence the "wildness" you know today.

There are a number of other versions, usually under the title of "Roving, I'll give it over" (Or "Wild Roving ...") though there are none in DT that I can find. There have been some recent threads about it though, so worth a search.

Cheers!
Ian