Dare I suggest that gone ower lang with a stake (or stick) in his hand is too clumsy a sentence in this context? It lacks the grace & simplicity of the other, and begs too many questions besides. On Tyneside it was always gone ower land wi' a stick in his hand which is such a great and succinct image. However, you're not alone in hearing it as ower lang; indeed one internet source has it as o'er long, which makes a sort of sense, but not a complete sense.

I can't come up with a printed source though; it's not in Bell, The Northumbrian Minstrelsy or Crawhall. I'll put the feelers out & get back if anything turns up. Meanwhile, to repeat Gnomad's plea: Anyone?