The expression 'Hand me down my walkin' cane' seems to turn up in all manner of places from sea shanties ('Hog's Eye Man'), to blues ('Look Yonder Wall') to contemporary songwriters (John Prine). I read somewhere that it originated from the pen of James Bland in the minstrel era. Does anyone know the truth of this? I have been unable to find any verification on the usual sites - American Memory, Duke, Brown, Levy etc. Just curious.

--Stewie.