I've become aware of a song, characterized as "a folk song from Kentucky", called Hi Ho, the Preacher Man. The performance of it was by a classical singer named Maria Stich-Randall, on a black and white Kultur DVD called "World Singers".

Listening to her rendition, and what words I could make out around her opera style, I was intrigued, but doubtful that it is actually a folk song.

So I Googled, and found a source that attributed it as "collected and arranged by Mr. John Jacob Niles".   Well, that right there sent questions through my mind, because Niles was notorious for writing songs and claiming them to be collected folk songs. "I wonder as I wander" is one such.

Does anyone know anything further about this song and its provenance?

Dave Oestereich