I suppose the Kingston Trio recording of "Tom Dooley" is the version most people know. I think the earliest known rendition of the song is the recording of Frank Proffitt by Frank Warner. Can't find that one right off, but this recording of Frank Proffit (click) was collected by Sandy Paton. It's about a murder that took place in North Carolina.



I had a bit of trouble find a recording of the traditional song titled "Waterbound" (also set in North Carolina), but here's one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwRlqwgxl30

And there's a song titled "Waterbound" by Dirk Powell that wouldn't work that well in a British accent, either:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3CYCXFVEEQ

And I don't think any of the Carter Family songs, including My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains (click) would work with a British or Irish accent - or even with my Californiaized Wisconsin accent...



-Joe-