Second go.
Of course Richard is right. I hereby promise to stop throwing back Jim's arrows.

IMO the only way I can see forward is to take examples of folk songs, as suggested several times, and look at what we know about their evolution. I will start with the interesting further info I have on 'Maids of Australia' and then move on to Uncle Walter's folksong repertoire which his grandfather got from broadsides.

Snail, I humbly and sincerely apologise for being patronising to you.
And yes, Steve is a much more agreeable person. I shall try to emulate him in the future.