Back in the 60s, I used to do a few Woody Guthrie songs that I learnt from his song book. To this day, I've never heard Woody - or anyone else - perform them.
I also used to get songs from Sing Out magazine. I remember learning "White Girl" by Peter LaFarge, and there was no metronome indication and so I decided that it should be done quite slowly,
Years later, I heard Johnny Cash's version and I was flabbercasted at - what seemed to me - the breakneck speed at which he performed it.
Just a few minutes ago, I looked it up on Youtube and - for the first time - listened to Peter LaFarge singing the song.