I'm putting Niles and Randolph on now:

Niles title: Lady Ishbel and her Parrot- Melton (NC) 1934 is very peculiar- since there is no Lady Isabel (Ishbel) in the lyrics the title must have been supplied by Niles. No other US collector has found that title and it appears only in Child A. Why Niles changed the title from Isabel to Ishbel is unknown- haha.

Here's the first verse- standard fare:

Lady Ishbel and her Parrot- Hattie Melton (NC) 1934; Collected John Jacob Niles.

He followed her up and he followed her down,
He followed her as she lay.
And she not having the strength to withstand,
Or the breath to say him nay.


Richie