Posted at the end of this study in my appendix is Item 4: "I'm Often Drunk And Seldom Sober," a broadside, at least four were printed the earliest by "Evans Printer, Long-lane, London" (Harding B 17(136b)), dated from "between 1780 and 1812".
"I'm Often Drunk And Seldom Sober" from John Pitts, Printer (Johnson Ballads 868) at 6 Great St. Andrew Street, 7 Dials, London, between 1819 and 1844.
Many cold winters nights I've travell'd, Until my locks were wet with dew, And don't you think that I'm to blame, For changing old love for new.
I'm often drunk and seldom sober, I am a rover in every degree, When I'm drinking I'm often thinking How shall I gain my love's company.
The seas are deep and I cannot wade them, Neither have I wings to fly, I wish I had some little boat, To carry over my love and I.
I lean'd my back against an oak, Thinking it had been some trusty tree; At first it bent and then it broke And so my false lover proved to me.
In London City the girls are so pretty, The streets are paved with marble stone, And my love she is as clever a woman As ever trod on English ground.
I wish I was in Dublin city, As far as e'er my eyes could see, Or else across the briny ocean, Where no no false lover can follow me.
If love is handsome and love is pretty, And love is charming while its new, So as love grows older it grows colder, But fades away like the morning dew.
I laid my head on a cask of brandy, It was my fancy I declare; For when I'm drinking I'm always thinking How I shall gain my love's company.
There is two nags in my fathers stable, They prick their ears when they hear the hound; And my true love is as clever a women As ever trod on England's ground
You silly sportsmen leave off your courting, I'll say no more till I have drank, For when I'm dead it will be all over, I hope my friends will bury me.
It clear to me, although I just made the observation, that Peggy Gordon is based on or similar to "I'm Always Drunk" and the songs related to it, Wally Waly (Water is Wide) and that "Peggy (Maggie) Gordon" is the source of the Water is Wide stanza (with some additional similar stanzas) in the US and Canada. This similarity is seen particularly in "Love is Lovely" and "Keg of Brandy" from Newfoundland. The core stanza in the UK of Water is Wide are from a "I'm Always Drunk" but the different stanza in the UK are from Unfortunate Swain. Further study is needed,