I've been looking at many different versions of the Child #200 ballad. Part of my search was to see what was on Mudcat. My introduction to this song was the Clancy Bros singing "the Whistling Gypsy", many, many years ago. So, I was interested in this discussion. When I came across the versions in Flanders and Scarborough, it seemed to me that there was some connection between them and Maguire's rewrite and I wondered if he had a precedent of some kind that had an Irish origin in the 19th century.

I'm sorry I don't have a way to scan the tune from Flanders, but it is close to Maguire's. Perhaps someone else will be able to do this. I've always thought that the shift from husband/lord to father was a way of making the story more presentable, perhaps to kids. Maguire's version seems almost like a kids' song, or a camp song. It is missing most of the rough edges of "Black Jack Davy". My question is not profound. I'm just wondering if there are Irish precedents that known to anyone for Maguire's particular version, that are similar to the Flanders and Scarborough versions that I've posted. I'll keep looking and let you know if I find anything else.

I'm aware of the collections in Randolph, Brown, Hunter, Sharp, Bronson, etc., along with the many recorded versions. Part of what is unique about the Flanders and Scarborough versions is the chorus. I've not found that anywhere else.