Okay the thread that gives the early history of this song's precursers is 'Bury me not on the lone Prairie'. Most of the songs (dating from 1834) on that thread have little in common with our song here other than the phrase 'bury me not/out' but very likely inspired our song. What the other thread does tell us is that seemingly the song that is the direct ancestor of all the versions here was written and composed by Gene Autry in 1927. A title sometimes used is 'I've got no use for the women' which comes from the first line, but the title most commonly used is 'Bury me out on the Prairie'. I have it unattributed and undated in 'Francis & Day's Hill-billy Album No. 1' at page 42.

The tune appears not to be related to any of the other 'Bury me Not/out' songs which predate it and for the purposes of this thread is definitely not related to 'Red River Valley'. All of the versions I have (British and Irish) of the parody above (barring one) where a tune is designated are set to 'Red River Valley'. However, I think I have a missing link in the evolution which might shed considerable light on it.......