So to sum up the discussion. Songs have been composed since mankind started singing. People of all social classes composed them. People like broad sheet publishers wrote songs for gain and republished songs written by other people. The fact that many songs appear throughout the country in very similar forms shows that the published broad sheets had an influence on the repertoire of singers.
By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.
By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.
By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.
By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.
sj