I learned this delightful little ditty from Brian Kelly and where he got it from, Lord knows! Having diligently searched the Internet, I've only found a single reference to a Northumberland group who have recorded it. This reminds me of what a tremendous knowledge of folk-music that Brian has. Whilst in the Idle Fellows, he sang it beautifully, sometimes with a verse or to of his own to stretch it out.
Since writing the above in the late 1990's, I now (2012) sing it regularly with the Tyneside Maritime Chorus where it generally used along with Bobby Shaftoe as a warmer-upper and a programme opener.
A pleasurable arrangement of Adam Buckham can be found in Singing Hinnies Book 1 and is included in Northumbrian Minstrelsy.. This song may be found in the Tyneside Maritime Chorus songbook

Lyrics