Clarification to an earlier post. The song in the 2-cd set "Clinch Mountain Country" is not the original with the Clinch Mountain Boys. The set is composed of re-makes with a number of 'stars' (Kathy Mattea on "Bright...").

In a note in the album on the recording with Mattea, Ralph says: "I heard two brothers, John and Dave Morris from up around Charleston, W. VA do this song. We were on a sort of college tour they were on." The note says further- "Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys originally recorded "Bright Morning Star" in early 1971 for their first album on Rebel, "Cry from the Cross" (see post above by Mark Clark).

(I can't imagine a 'Native American' writing that line either. Many pekoolyar Christians; I wouldn't cross them out. Chinese ancestor worship, perhaps?)