Re Stringsinger's post above I think that just about describes how most if not all folk songs originate. If a song wasn't popular it would never be remembered by enough people to enable it to last. Unfortunately this simple straightforward logic upsets some people.

Regarding the feelings of pop and rock stars "tough titty", once you have made your efforts public you lose control of who and how your material is used by the people. Unless of course they try to claim it as their own and try earning from it.

Not trying to start an argument Frank but did Dan Emmett really write Dixie? Howard and Judith Sacks wrote a book "Way Up NORTH in DIXIE" where authorship is claimed by the Snowden family of musicians from Emmett's home town.