Ye've had all the explanations that ye need, Mudguard, as to the meaning of "curly pow"---the head with deformed hair is exactly right---but I see you mention the version familiar to you as the one done by Finbar and Eddie Fury ['way back in the sixties]. A wee aside---while guesting at Hexham folk club, Finbar told me that the Irish clergy had condemned their singing of the song, being of the [nonsensical] opinion that curly pow was a reference to pubic hair.[!!!!]