Hi MultiMary! .....someone left the cake out in the rain..... Oops, sorry...Wrong thread......LOL

This is a toughie. Sounds like a job for Stewie maybe. I think (before Stewie comes along and corrects my dumb ass) that the first recording of this was by Fiddlin' John Carson in 1924 or 25. Since then, I know of a ton of folks who've recorded it, even Ronnie Hawkins, though I doubt his version is the one you're looking for!

I'm also willing to bet that Vernon Dalhart had more than one version recorded as that was pretty common. It was also picked up of course by some mainstream country artists like Little Jimmy Dickens and ending each verse with the same line was very popular with country singers then.

Also, 'Catter Gene posted THESE LYRICS which differ some and are longer than the ones in the DT.

I'll have a look around in my meager scrabble for any additional stuff and await Stewie to come in and say I'm an idiot!!!

Spaw