Hello everyone!
I'm so glad I found this resource. Currently I am doing a research project on the evolution of a folk song from the middle ages until now, or somewhat recently. I have to pick one song to trace, and it's proving to be more complicated than I had expected--lots of dead ends, lots of similar songs, lots of indeterminable suppositions.

I've tried to narrow it down but am finding it difficult to find songs that are as old as the middle ages (truly, not just advertised as such) that have survived in any recognizable form. The songs I'm considering are:

-The Hern, as performed by John Fleagle. this song seems to be unique or nearly unique in its melody and words, which can be a good thing (narrow research topic) but may be too obscure, as the supposedly closely related "Down in yon forest" seems loosely related...I have found that it was adapted from Richard Hill's Commonplace book (c. 1500) but have found very little information on the song other than that. Do you have suggestions for me on where else to look?

-Maid in Bedlam- some sources claim this is medieval but the earliest date I've found is 1787. The tune supposedly is the "same" as Gramachree Molly but I find they sound very different. The song is intriguing though, the story captivating and the tune beautiful. I have found it was a reworking of "The Black's Lament" but that the tune may have been invented around 1787 or so.

I also found an article on this concept of tracing songs, and in the article they traced the song family of John Barleycorn, so a similar project to what I'd like to do.

Lastly--maybe I am approaching this all wrong. Is there a better way to find an appropriate song for this assignment? My initial interest was in tracing a *modal* song as it developed or survived through the centuries, but I am willing to go with any piece that is traceable.