Brya Blanchard was a good singer and a mainstay of the sussex folk scene in the 70s and 80s.
returning to te version i sing of matty groves, which starts, a holiday a holiday the first one of the year, lord donalds wife went to church the gospel for to hear. if that is repeated it does detract from the dramatic ending, but it takes the listener back to reflect on the story ,so its not nonsense, i do not repeat the first verse normally,but have no problem with others repeating it.