Looking at different versions, there seems to be a lot of variation in the name, sex and social standing of the people who try to buy Hugh the Graeme's life. I was struck by Lord Hume/Lady Hume myself, but I suspect it's a relatively late mutation.

The other odd thing about the ballad is H the G's twelve- or fifteen-foot leap - I mean, it's impressive, but he doesn't seem to be attempting to escape. I suppose it gained him the time to give his father four verses of detailed instructions.

I'm very taken with Tony Capstick's version (on _Punch and Judy Man_, which remarkably appears to be available on CD). He takes the tune used by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, which is in 4:4 with one bar of 6:4, and stretches most of the 4:4 bars to 7:4. Described like that it sounds outlandish, but it works well.