Steve- I would like a copy of the paper, since I quote you. If you have time email it to me.

It's likely Gainer added the "brown girl" text from 295B and changed it- it's part version of "Billy and Sally" or "The Rich Irish Lady."

This sort of thing has been going on for a while- Child often wondered how Peter Buchan always seemed to have ballads that were several stanzas longer than any other.

It's unfortunate but in the US there seem to be certain obvious examples . The most obvious is the talented singer and collector John Jacob Niles- who a least was good at recreating ballads. Since he was an avid collector, it's impossible to know the real from the recreation in many cases.

Richie