Interesting to look through the material in Google on this song.

The cover by Simon and Garfunkel really spread the line,
"I ever dreamed before," which is grammatically incorrect, changes the tense from the first line, and would never have been said by Ed McCurdy. EBarnacle is correct with "I'd never."

Some websites make no mention of Ed McCurdy and leave the impression that the song is by S & G. One even lists it among S & G's "Collected Songs."

Several sites, mostly European, have "I never," also grammatically incorrect since the first line is in the past tense. At least the transcriber heard "never."

The NIH website adds a four line repeat to the last verse, and adds a final verse which mentions "non=violence." It dilutes the message.

Several try to be politically correct (Janie version at top) and change the 1950 original. When this is done, the song should be cited Ed McCurdy, revised or arranged by ---.