I have sung this song from my school days from 1986 to when I left in 1997. I've also played it at solo gigs and with my old band, Braveheart. The song has had words written before 1940 when Jimmy Davis stole his rights from Paul Rice. The only words to this song that Davis might have written that are still sung today is, I think, the last verse which some people have forgotten. Marvin Taylor and Oliver Hood first sung this song in 1939 before Davis. He thinks the song was older. One thing I do know is that the song does not date to the 19th century, but like other folk songs the tune might be related to an earlier song that is nothing to do with the 1939 song that is known today.