Now yes, I know RVW collected it in Norfolk, made a set of 5 variations on it in classical orchestral form, and the rest, but it remains a niggle, that some Victorian's taken a decent tune and wiped the words out, putting something "learnèd" and biblical and worthy in their place. A cross between Christina Rosetti and the Reverend Bowdler. I can't help but want to use a metrical equivalent, John Barleycorn, instead!
Any other ideas, though? What other words could have been used?