I don't know about Martin Simpson, but here's what I wrote back in 1968 when I included the song, sung with fretless banjo, on Frank Proffitt's second Folk-Legacy solo recording (C-36):

This banjo song, now well-known through the performances of Ralph Stanley, Roscoe Holcomb, Pete Steele, etc., can be heard almost anywhere in the Appalachians, but generally without Frank's verses about the misleading married woman. Most listeners will probably tend to identify these particular lines with Leadbelly's version of "Easy Rider."

Here's what Frank sang for me:

     Little birdie, little birdie,
     Come and sing to me your song.
     I've got a short time now to stay here
     And a long time to be gone.

Married woman, married woman,
Just look what you've done.
You caused me for to love you,
Said your husband was dead and gone.

     Little birdie, little birdie,
     Come and sing to me your song.
     I've got a short time now to stay here
     And a long time to be gone.

Married woman, married woman,
Just look what you've done.
You caused me for to love you,
Now your husband's come home.

     Little birdie, little birdie,
     Come and sing to me your song.
     I've got a short time now to stay here
     And a long time to be gone.

I'd rather be in a lonesome holler,
Where the sun never shines.
Than for you to be some other's darling,
When you promised you'd be mine.
     Little birdie, little birdie,
     Come and sing to me your song.
     I've got a short time now to stay here
     And a long time to be gone.

Sandy