PRE dating the Bing version?

Haven't heard about that. The only one that pre-dates it that I'm aware of would be the original version that I believe Roy Rogers used. Actually, I'm blanking right now... I don't think it was Rogers, but it's definitely one of the Singing Cowboys.

Now I'd say it's entirely possible that the song has been rewritten for the purposes you name. The original is fairly anti-development if you care to take it that way to begin with...

M