Old MacDonald in Latin amuses me because my folks would speak Latin whenever they wanted the children not to understand them...only worked until certain older siblings got a command of the language.

Mudcat to me is much like a walk around the town square. There are kindly folks who'll hold a door, step aside, share a smile. There are some not-so-kindly folks who just don't see anyone or anything but themselves and their interests. There are folks who are naturally cantankerous, or who might just be having a bad day. It's all fun to watch, and sometimes to join in, though I generally step around the dog shit, metaphorical and otherwise.

So what if the question gets asked too often, repetition is a great educator, in spite of the "did you search first" option available here. Besides, what if there's new information on the subject?

All music is derivative, and much folk music owes its roots to a much earlier time, which many of us find interesting to the point of obsession. Whether the melodies have remained unaltered is doubted, but neither has much else.

Hang around Tansy, Summer Is A Comin'.

Peace, Mooh.