Senoufou, I think you've got it. Makes perfect sense. Now, who was sitting down with her when Anna Bell Cowden transcribed the song (¿A Hebrew speaker?), or from whom did she get it? A Jewish singer with a sense of humor? A Jewish singer who had the song from a Hebrew source--Was the song originally Hebrew? (Like Dona, Dona, Dona, maybe) Any guesses anyone?

Megan L, Anna Bell Cowden died before the 1941 copyright date you list. I wonder (it's been done--see Tom Dooley) if Lampman and Foy copyrighted the song in preparation for someone who recorded it, looking for a "hit song"?

Thank-you everyone who has responded. This shows the vibrancy of the folksong/folklore community in the U.S. I was amazed at the volume and precision of the responses, and they've brought me back to a Web site, which though 'way old in format--it reminds me of the old listserv_L sites--is still perfect for our needs.