Several sources tell me this famous Roy Acuff-song uses the melody of the murderballad 'In The Hills Of Roane County' (lyrics based on the poem 'The Roane County Prisoner' ca. 1915). Unfortunately, the Acuff-song (April 1940) predates the earliest (?) recording by the Blue Sky Boys (October 1940) by several months ... I do not really question the older age of the 'Roane County'-song, but I was hoping to find a proof of the song's earlier existence (perhaps with an alternate title) through sheet music, broadsides, radio transcriptions, song collections, whatever. It would also be helpful finding out who rewrote that poem and when, but my main question is: does anyone recognize this tune (Irish maybe?), it was probably around for several decades since its first recording in 1940. Thanks. Hear a 30sec sample here: http://shop.fye.com/product.aspx?loc=50295&sku=60136378