As several on here know I am from the same place as Merle Travis. Bill Monroe is from a few miles down the road as well. The reason I bring up Bill Monroe and Merle Travis is there is a common storiy around these parts. The same story repeated by different people depending on where you are around here. That story is that "I wrote this", "This person wrote that", "He was just ripping off ...insert name)". It is very common to come across an older person and they claim to have written songs or know someone who wrote them. Then turn around and claim that Travis, Monroe, even The Everly Brothers (they are from here too) stole the song or style. I have really looked into some of the claims. Sometimes I walk away confused and wondering if the story was true and other times I leave thinking "No way on Earth.". Cleaton Ky was a stronghold for music in the early 1900's. It was a stronghold for music and moonshine but that is about it. Every weekend musicians from all over the area would gather drink and play music all night. These musicians included Mose Rager, Merle Travis, Ike Everly (The father of the Everly Brothers), and many more that have or have not been remembered locally. There are rumors that Bill and Charlie Monroe would come and sit in. I have never found anything to support that but that is the rumor. Rosine's close proximity to Cleaton makes it possible though. Knowing Bill and Charlie's rounder side I am sure the shine and music appealed to them. Songs were swapped and guitar licks traded off every weekend for years. No tapes exist of these jam sessions only memories of the ones that were there. Merle Travis recorded a bunch of the songs he picked up at the jam sessions at Cleaton. He gave credit to the authors on a bunch of them. He talked about them and the jam session alot as well. I don't think Travis intentionally ripped someone off. You all know how confusing it can be sitting around with a bunch of great musicians trying to learn the words, how to play the song, the title, who wrote it, etc... If Travis did I am sure it is was out of confusion. I still think Travis wrote it though. His father (just like my father, brother, and grandfathers back for 5 generations) were coal miners here in W.KY. That whole CD (Folk Songs from the KY Hills) had an inside knowledge that could not be faked. Little things that others may not even pick up on. I know the historian he mentions on the record. I pass the the towns he talked about all the time. I know stories that accompany the songs from people that were actually there or had fathers or grandfathers that were there. The Browder Explosion song is a prime example. There are minute details that really shows the validitiy and an intimate knowledge of the subject matter. I know the other man was a coal miner from KY but the details were very specific to Merle's area. I am not arguing to change anyone's mind or anything. I am really just stating why I feel Merle wrote the song. Take all the info into consideration not just my points and decide for yourself. In the end though I really believe Merle Travis wrote 16 tons.