Hi Jim,

This brings up an excellent point and I'm glad you mentioned it:

That print versions in this case are based on the ur-ballad, which is an unknown traditional ballad.

One way we know this is, the first print version of circa 1690 was to be sung to the tune of Barbara Allen, which means that the ballad pre-dates print and it also implies that the ballad was sung enough for the tune to be known.

In my opinion the print versions would be based on known traditional versions, unless of course, the print version was composed and newly printed. Since Barbara Allen was in circulation (Pepys 1666) and the tune and I assume the ballad was commonly known about that time, I am looking to recreate the traditional ur-ballad by using print and traditional versions.

It is, as you point, out possible that the rose-brier ending was sung but not included in print (instead of added later), however unlikely that would be.

Richie