The Master Title for Roud 2 will soon, for the Roud Index, be SAILOR CUT DOWN IN HIS PRIME. The reasoning behind this was provided by an EFDSS committee about 10 years ago. My own preference was to use the best-known or earliest broadside title but the criterion I was given was to use the most widely used title in published collections. I have deviated slightly from this where the only known title is simply the first line (very confusing with 'As I rode outs'), then I have provided an editorial title.

Having said that, I still think there is a good case to be made for giving separate numbers to widely differing oecotypes as with this ballad's relatives. Currently the Roud Index doesn't provide for oecotypes, 2A, 2B etc., which is a great pity.

It would be a great surprise to me if there weren't several 'Unfortunate Rake' ballads from the 18th & 19th centuries as the words taken separately occur frequently, 'Unfortunate Maid' etc., and 'Limerick Rake' etc.