A small observation, not provable- when we used to sing this ballad, around Chrismastime, the oldtimers would explain that, back when the calendar was changed, there was so much disagreement and arguments that someone actually added the verse, "On the sixth day of January my birthday shall be..." as an annonymous protest to the moving of Christmas to December 25. It makes sense, but is it true?

I remember my Granny Catty Ritchie being still quite touchy on the subject of the Christmas date, and she ALWAYS observed Old Christmas, telling us in no uncertain terms that December 25th was just "a newfangled notion..."

Another observation: "...while Joseph stood around," could refer to a command sometimes given to one's horse, to get him/her into position at the mounting block, or treestump, for a lady or child, for instance: "Here! Stand-around now! Stand-around!" The inferance here would be that the unborn infant Jesus was giving God's command to bring Joseph to obedience.   At least, being farmdwellers, we always just assumed that was what it meant, in the song.