Eric Winter says ~ “the original is poeticised song about the farmers’ life ~ i have chosen half verses here and there and put them together to make a shorter and more singable version ~ i wrote the tune as that given in Irish Street Ballads (Colm O Lachlainn, Three Candles Press, Dublin 1939)didn’t seem to have enough spirit ~ First half of verse three is found on old Englsh drinking cups ~ use second half of verse one as a chorus
Traditional words adapted by and arranged by and tune by Eric Winter (c) Sing Publications 1964
Above from Songs squibs and a couple of poems by Eric Winter (THEY NEVER CLAPPED ME LIKE THAT) December 1992 published book

Ray