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Could this be the old Irish song upon which it was based? "Is trua nach bhfuil me i Sasana". The Bothy Band does the song as "Its a pity I'm not in Ireland" on their first album: "Is Trua Nach Bhfuil Mé in Éirinn" but the tune is entirely different.

According to this mudcat thread, the liner notes of Moore's Prosperous album says "I got the idea for this song from an old book of Irish songs which had been poorly translated. I rewrote the song, put a new tune to it and this is the result."

It also provided John in Brisbane's transcription of the tune which Nate transposed here.
as performed by Quilty though they do it in Em

    I Wish I Was In England

    by Christy Moore
    Oh a long time I have been roaming
    in country and in town
    But never in my wandering met
    a maid of such renown
    Never in my wandering met
    a maid of such renown

    Oh until I met my true love
    on the slopes of Knocknashee
    Her long hair in the howling wind
    blowing wild and free
    Her brown hair in the howling wind
    blowing wild and free

    (Chorus
    Oh well I [Am] wish that I [G] was in [Am] England,
    in [C] France or [G] even in [Am] Spain
    Oh [F] Wherever [C] dwells my [G] own true [Am] love
    for to [C] hold her [G] near [Am] again
    Oh [F] Wherever [C] dwells my [G] own true [Am] love
    for to [C] hold her [G] near [Am] again )

    Oh my true love she did promise me
    some land with rambling kine
    and on her ample pasture land
    to build a mansion fine
    and on her ample pasture land
    to build a mansion fine

    Chorus + break over verse

    Oh but then my love she left me
    and she wandered far away
    And I've been searching for my love
    for many's the night and day
    Oh I've been searching for my love
    for many's the night and day

    So I wish that I was in England
    or wherever she may be
    That I could go and call her name
    and together we could be
    That I could go and call her name
    and together we could be

    Chorus