songsmith,

If you prefer to look at the singing of traditional songs as an endeaver requiring research and preparation, more power to you.

As for me, I sing a song simply because I like it. Almost all my material has human (as opposed to paper) sources. As far as I can tell, that's why they sing/sang their songs.

Maggie Hammons Parker obviously didn't do her homework if she sings about "Edinsburrows town". Can't say that I care.