I heard Clancy & Makem do this one on several US tours in the 80s. I remembered it, including melody, when I was searching for an entry for a "Worst Song" Contest. (Columbus Ohio Folk festival) Understanding that it wasn't the worst PLAYING that won, and that the previous year's winning song was Les Barker's parody "Will the Turtle be Unbroken." I knew that parodies were the mainstay, and since I was giving a parody workshop that festival, I wanted something else.

I came in second (to a parody, of course) after a couple rounds of elimination boo-offs. I was just as glad to come in second, as the winner gets to wear an enormous rosette (pink white and black with polka dots) that would interfere greatly with holding my autoharp. In an age of aggressive PC, and lots of sensitivity to racial issues, there are a very limited number of places where one can get away with this song- this may be the only place I'll ever sing it.

Joanne in Cleveland (St. Ann came through for me in a much less dramatic way)