It was not created by John O'Donnell and Truck Croteau. It was created late one night (Is that the same as "VERY early one morning"?) in Brad Burke's Manhattan apartment by Brad, Jerry Epstein, Estelle Wade, Marion Wade, and Don Wade. (I hope I've got that right.) It was subsequently printed in the NY Folk Music Society's newsletter and attributed to "The Brooklyn Ballad Project"; perhaps adding to the mystery of its authorship. It was also later printed in the San Francisco Folk Music Club's newsletter with some minor errors. I don't remember the exact date, it would have to be 1969 or later -- hence the allusion to Portnoy in the last verse.