Stringsinger,
Please read the OP before commenting.

Of course the first printed edition of a song does not mean that's the first way it was sung, but when you have studied the relationship between popular song, street literature and oral tradition in minute detail for 40+ years you are allowed to hold the opinion that the vast majority of these first printings were the first manifestations of them. Of course many of them had their first appearance on a stage somewhere. Try and prove otherwise.

Jim,
Apologies for posting as GUEST a few days ago. I'm sure you knew it was me. I did try to own up but my message vanished, like many others.