Artist & Tune
Version by Steeleye Span
Version by John Langstaff
Version by Maddy Prior
Version by Status Quo
Version by Louise Morrissey
Version by The McCalmans
Version by The Mollys
Version by The Bad Shepherds
Version by José Hoebee
About the Song
"All Around My Hat" is a traditional English song dating to at least the 1820s. It was published in several early 19th century broadsides. There are field transcriptions from England in the early 1900s. There are field recordings available in Canada & the U.S. in the 1940s.
The English folk rock band popularized the song with their 1975 recording. It may have been based on John Langstaff's earlier recording.
The song is about a young man transported to Austalia for a crime. His true love vows to wear a green willow as a sign of mourning for a "twelve month & a day".