The song apparently originally appeared in the Burnley Gazette as "The Girl In The Calico Dress" and was intended to be sung to the tune of "Paddle Your Own Canoe". There is another verse which the Oldham Tinkers don't sing (verse 3). Watch out also for the "heard" words above which differ from the original printed words. See http://www.archive.org/stream/localrhymes00nutt/localrhymes00nutt_djvu.txt

THE GIRL IN THE CALICO DRESS

In flowery July upon Healey's proud height,
As the plover sprung from the morass,
And southward the cuckoo was taking his flight,
And the corncrake was deep in the grass ;
The swallow and swift were aloft in the air,
And the starling was feeding her young ;
The milkmaid was tending her cattle with care,
And the haymakers cheerfully sung :

" The maidens of Burnley in satin or silk,
Are pretty, I freely confess ;
But give me the maid who is neatly arrayed
In a beautiful calico dress."

They may praise the Italian ladies, in vain,
Or the maidens of France or Peru,
Or worship the languishing beauties of Spain,
And the blushing Circassians, too.
But she whom I love has an eye like the sloe,
And her cheeks are like roses in June,
So graceful each step as she trips like the doe,
And her sweet ruby lips are in tune.

The maidens of Burnley &c

Her dress (though of print) was embroidered with care,
And the flowers on her bosom were sweet ;
The zephyrs waved gently her dark curly hair,
And the buttercups bloomed at her feet.
As dew from the daisies she carelessly dashed,
The young men were all seized with surprise ;
How sweetly she smiled, and what mischief she flashed
From the glance of her dark rolling eyes.

The maidens of Burnley &c

Should fortune or friendship impel me to roam,
Or a thirst after changes constrain,
I'd still call the banks of Old Healey my home,
And I'd sing of its beauties again.
Sweet gardens of roses, or art-cultured bowers
May delight a poor soul to possess ;
But give me old Healey, bedecked with wild flowers
And the girl in the calico dress.

The maidens of Burnley &c