In the version I learned from Buryl Ives, he sang it, ..It was early in the morning between six and seven guards were all around me they numbered odd and even, I flew to me pistols but, alas I was mistaken, I fired off me pistols and a prisoner I was taken....

I'm not sure if he was singing it, I fired off me pistols, or I'D fired, past tense. The other difference is, some take delight in fishing and FOWLING,...(shooting birds) An old name for a shotgun is "fowling piece".