I too am puzzled by the lack of corroborative evidence for Thomas Hardy's "I Lost My Love I Care Not."

The Redpath is pretty clearly a different, unrelated song in stanza framework and general feel. There are only the slightest resemblances.

I'm guessing what happened is that the makers of each song were separately inspired by the title of the fiddle tune. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened!

I heartily recommend you listen to the Paul Dawkins rendition on the "Far From the Madding Crowd" soundtrack CD, which can be found in a few places on the net. It's a corker! I find myself singing it around the house a lot. It's got a fine old sound. If Hardy didn't make it up himself, it's a great lost traditional song.

Bob