Sometimes, if you know the general storey contained in a folk song, it is easier to follow the words and thus fill in the details. If I could give a few examples, perhaps it would help:

When:- May, early in the morning
Where:- down by the river
Girl dies
Man feels eternal regret

Boy goes into the forest
He dies
Mother feels eternal regret

Ship sets of in the teeth of a gale
All on board drown
Those left at home feel eternal regret

Soldier goes off to war
……………………………………….


You get my drift?

DC ;-)