I can't prove it, of course, but in my own mind, I'm certain I heard Jimmy Davis singing the song on the Grand Ole' Opera prior to 1940. I know we sang the song in music classes prior to that date.

I wonder?

Is the purpose of historical musicology to disprove the claims of musical pieces composers have claimed to have composed? From reading the posts on this thread, I have seen nothing that would definitively disprove Governor Jimmy Davis' claim.

Are the "real" composers of the piece complaining? If so, I would think there would be gigantic law suits that would make the "real" composer (decendents) very rich.

DougR