The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #1119 Message #291189
Posted By: Ely
05-Sep-00 - 12:40 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Tom Dooley
Subject: RE: TOM DOOLEY
Well, the lyrics don't predate the Civil War, at least. He was a Confederate veteran and, according to the various sources that I've seen, a general ne'er-do-well. I've never seen anything to contradict that he was hanged in 1867 or 1868. Possibly the song is based on an earlier one, although I don't know of any that resemble it that closely (someone else might, though).