Kat, it's the same song. The tune was written for a UK television show in the 80's. I don't know if the words were added later - there are two sets. There was a discussion of the song a while ago, but I don't have a clue how to find it since supersearch down. (And believe me, I've tried.)

It's says something about the song's chances if even Joe Hickerson and the Patons thought it was trad, eh? And like I said, it appears to me the authors haven't done a whole lot to ensure their names are attached to the song.

It really is a dilemma. I'm torn between giving credit where credit is due and just letting songs slip into oral tradition. There's a problem when authors' names are known, because some feel theirs is the correct version. The chances of the song being folk-processed are slim. I'm sure authors squeak things in all the time - "I learned this from an old man I met in a pub," not, "I wrote it last Thursday."