Hi cnd,

When I wrote that in my recollection, "Follow the drinking gourd" was an addition by Lee Hays, the reason for the quotes was that the text referred to those words, rather than to the song. (Otherwise, the song would have been an addition to itself.)

From your link, I find my recollection was faulty, though, as it was "for the old man is awaitin' for to carry you to freedom" that was added by Hays. Then again, Hays appears to also have modified the song in different ways. It any part of the song can probably only be called "traditional" in the sense that such a song has existed in something like the earlier half of the 20th century.

BFN
Mysha