Steve seems to be arguing that the Widow McGrath was originally a piss-taking song written for a British audience to have a good laugh about an old Irish woman whose son had got his legs blown off while serving with British forces in Europe. More details please Steve. As sung by Mr Johnson at the Adelphi -at the Adelphi Theatre was it ? Like Jim I don’t see that lyric as being much different to the one we know today. (Otherwise I’d have to ask who this Mr Johnston was and if he has any living relatives!)