"Would God I Were..."

Operation Luna, 21.

Virginia Matuchek and a British colleague compose a curious spell which Steve sings to the tune of "Danny Boy"/"The Londonderry Air":

"Would God I were the tender apple blossom
"That struts and frets his hour upon the stage.
"To be made honest by an act of Parliament
"Call up the bloody Territorials.
"Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow
"Beside me singing in the wilderness.
"Now there's a choice - heartache or tortured liver!
"A sweeter draught than ye will ever taste, I ween." (pp. 190-191)

This is going to take some analyzing, folks. To make a start:

"Danny Boy," performance, lyrics.
"Would God I Were...," performance, lyrics.

There is much more than this but it is time for a lunch break here and I want to check whether these links are working.