First, it should be pointed out that the lyrics in Mudcat contain errors, and even allowing for the imagery of the song some just don't make sense. The correct lyrics as sung by Mike Waterson on Bright Phoebus can be found on Mainly Norfolk.

Like many of Lal's songs, the words are enigmatic. However I find some of the attempted interpretations both forced and a bit prosaic. The connection I immediately made when I first heard the song was with the human fertility sacrifice ritual - as someone said, all very Golden Bough. Seen that way, the song has a compelling horror which other interpretations lack. The third verse, which I think was written by Mike Waterson, seems to reinforce this.

I think people are trying to find too much literal meaning in some of the words. The literal meaning of "jolly dons" may be obscure, but the metaphorical sense is clear to me - these are authority figures who are sacrificing a baby before sowing the corn. Part of the ritual involved the sacrificial king fathering a child which was then also sacrificed. This is perhaps alluded to in the invitation to "lay me down and love me".

It may or may not be relevant that the same theme was covered in a television play "Robin Redbreast" broadcast on the BBC in 1970 as part of the important "Play for Today" series. "Bright Phoebus" was issued in 1972 and Lal's demo version was from 1971. I cannot say whether this was in the writer's minds, but a lot of people at the time, perhaps not just on the folk scene, would have been familiar with the idea of such sacrificial rituals, perhaps more so than a modern audience.