Thanks to everyone on this thread! I have an acting class assignment where we are supposed to act out something about a composer and perform his/her music. I started out with the idea that I could be the famous "anonymous" and sing this song as a nameless slave dreaming of freedom. Then I was stunned to find Paul Campbell mentioned as the composer in Tom Glazer's "Songs of Peace, Freedom and Protest." After following this thread through the Weavers, Hays, Parks, ghosts, haunted houses and PegLeg Joe my head is still spinning. I think I'm going to stick to the good story and wish you all luck as you try to verify it or expose it as a romantic "non-urban legend." I'm still like those school kids mentioned here - when I look at the Big Dipper it makes me feel safe, even though I've been living far from home for over 30 years.