I always thought that the whole thing was based on a mishearing and the word lish has no part in the song. Imagine if you will a senario where a young lass leaves her newly found mate to go overseas at the time this song was set, then imagine the same situation with reversed gender roles. Add to this the possibility that the young man is a military person and has to go as duty called. Which is more likely? I think the original song carried the burden: It was the young militia boy who led me astray and if I was as seriously intent on proving it as some of you are your theories I'd give the Bodleian a miss and seek elsewher. Happy hunting, Ray Black