I hope I'm posting this on the right board. Earlier I had posted an interest in finding out more about the origin of the Chad Mitchell Trio (and apparently later recorded by The Golden Ring) version of Jesse James with the chorus "I wonder where my poor Jesse's gone". Paul Clayton has it on a 1957 lp. Deckman claims he heard it in 1955.

I just noticed a previous post (don't know how I missed it the first time) From: GUEST,BILL LYONS Lchantyman@aol.com - PM
Date: 06 Aug 05 - 04:16 PM

He writes:
Regarding the Jesse James version subtitled, "I Wonder Where My
Poor Old Jesse's Gone", Paul Clayton told me that he collected
this version from Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Paul taught Lunsford the
chorus that Clayton, himself, had written. I knew Paul Clayton
in the sixties and have sung many of his songs myself, including
his version of "Jesse James".

I'm confused. It seems really circular. Paul Clayton learned it from Bascom Lamar Lunsford and Lunsford learned it from Clayton.

Most of the verses aren't that different from other versions of Jesse James--just the chorus). So was the version that Deckman's great uncle sang him in Skidmore Missouri (the one they know around those parts)learned from Paul Clayton via Mr. Lunsford--or does it have an earlier origin?   Oral tradition is fascinating, isn't it?