I will not comment on the last posting, it is hardly worth wasting my time over.

Back to Lillibulero, there was a radio documentary on BBC several years ago discussing this very song - its origins, lyrics, historical (or even, for some people, hysterical) context, etc. Unfortunately, I can't remember enough of it to provide an answer to the initial question.

One fact I do remember - and it was illustrated by a recording - was that it was adopted as a marching tune by some military body, Gurkhas, or Malay (please excuse lack of precision). However, it was deemed too short, and to make the marching tune longer it was combined with "Heigh Ho", the Seven Dwarves work song from the Disney movie. Just try whistling it - Lillibulero followed by Heigh Ho - it works surprisingly well.

Norman