According to W. K. McNeil (Southern Folk Ballads, Vol 1, 1987) the song is a British broadside that first appeared in print in Robert Jamieson's "Popular Ballads and Songs" (1806) under the title of "Lord Kenneth and Fair Ellinour". He apparently got it from Professor Robert Scott of King's College who in turn transcribed it from a recitation by one of his maids. A version from Scotland was known a "Peggy Baun" In the American oral tradition it is known under a host of titles: Molly Van; Molly Vaughn; Polly Van; Molly Banding; Molly Vanders; Molly Vonder; Molly Bendon; Mollie Bonder; Polly Bon; Polly Bond; Shooting of His Dear. The last title is telling because VAnce Randolph (Ozark Folksongs) has a couple versions in which the young woman is mistaken for a "fawn" in the fatal hunting accident. A number of people (and dogs and cows etc.) a killed each year in the US deer hunting season. The young man is most often, Jimmy, Jimmy Randolph, Jimmy Randall, or Jimmy Rangal.

rich r