Yes seems this is known all over certainly the North of England and I and others have been looking for the origins of this ditty for a good bit ~ social club trips in the north of England for the kids to Blackpool and Cleethorpes had popular songs like this going and returning ~ but ~ where did it originate?

I believe that the tune is in fact German in origin ~ but can anyone put a date and provenance to the words? I think probably from the walkers/climbers of Britain ~ certainly before folk clubs era!

Ray