It may be we haven't come across a definitive answer simply because there isn't one. I don't like that either, but sometimes that's what happens when you try to date a song ----- the dates just aren't available for whatever reason. Just because a song was collected in 1898 or 1922 or whatever doesn't mean it wasn't around LONG before then. Songs can get passed around bookoos of times before they're ever seen in print. If you were to say that it has its origins -sometime- in the 19th century, you would probably be quite correct. ------------ KFC