I agree the history of a song is always of interest. What I was trying to say, in the context of this discussion, is that the original composition of a song is just part of the creative process, and not necessarily the most significant.

It is probable, indeed almost certain, that singers' repertoires have always included both songs which originated from "the people" and also popular songs of the day. The important part of the creative process of folk song, it seems to me, is not so much the original act of composition but how it is subsequently altered, edited and amended by successive singers.

It is striking how often the doggerel of a broadside hack has been reworked into a thing of beauty by the singers who performed it. Is that not what the creativity of the people really means?