Judy,

There is no author given in the notes to 'Times Ain't Vol 1', only info on the Southern Moonlight Entertainers. Meade et alia 'Country Music Sources' give no author, but give a reference to pp 160-62 Lillian Gladys Crabtree 'Songs and Ballads Sung in Overton County, Tennessee: A Collection' (MA thesis George Peabody College, Nashville, Tenn, 1936). If you can track down that reference, it may give an author but, if so, it is strange that Meade did not indicate it. The first recording was by Frank Luther in November 1928, Carson Robison recorded it several times beginning in December 1928 and the Southern Moonlight Entertainers recorded it in April 1930 [issued in August 1930 as Vo 5440]. You could try contacting Dr Charles Wolfe through the Tennessee Folklore Society.

--Stewie.