What a fascinating thread! This song is sung occasionally by a stalwart of our folk club in Kent, and I've never had a clue what he was singing about - and that's despite me growing up in Yorkshire. In the West Riding, we had a holiday called Wakes Week - wonder if that's connected to the Wake in the title of the dirge?? Does Wakes week still exist I wonder?? I suppose it's time I made another pilgimage north of the Wattie Gap!!