There is a new song history available on my website Just Another Tune:
This is about a very old family of songs. The earliest examples - two broadsides and a tune - are from the 17th century. Today "I Loved A Lass" - first recorded by Ewan MacColl in 1965 (here at YouTube) - is quite popular among Folk singers. The song was also known under titles like "The Week Before Easter", "The False Hearted Lover", "The False Nymph", "Love Is The Cause of My Mourning" etc.