'They didn't succeed in engaging my interest, let alone want me to keep listening for 6 minutes. But then I'm familiar with Frankie Armstrong's version...'

Frankie's rendition - which I've witnessed live more than once - is the most powerful I've ever heard, full of passion and engagement with the story.

Like several others, including Anne Briggs and Mike Waterson, Frankie uses the version put together so ingeniously by Bert Lloyd, who on this occasion used an authentic Scottish tune heard on a fragmentary recording of the ballad. Dave & Toni Arthur came up with their own take on the ballad around the same time and, according to Dave, Fairport got the idea from them but used a text and tune put together by a singer called Marion Grey.