As a side issue (if you read the cited threads) the reason there are three distinct approaches to the song are that 1) Chandler traveled East, gave the song to Van Ronk who did his vanronkian thing 2) Kaufman traveled West, taught it to San Francisco people (perhaps including Tim Hardin - I haven't heard the record & can't remember) with a much gentler interpretation 3) the Alabama children continued to use it as they had, as a street, play song. Nice song, yes.