The 12" Symphonion version of the song refers to 'Scotch' origins, but
then discs themselves are not always reliable either.

What about the year each version was produced?  Does the [Symphonion]
disc pre-date the [Gem Roller Organ] cob or vice versa?  By how much?

Changing 'The' to 'De' sounds suspiciously like an easy way to slip
into Stephen Foster territory.  It does seem possible that Heiser
simply snatched a traditional Scots tune, since many 'composers' have
turned out to be 'arrangers'.  ;-)  Not that this is evil, just part of
the music world.  (Of course, Gershwin couldn't orchestrate, but do we
care?)

The stringent rules that apply to research on genealogy can't apply
here, perhaps because it's not as crucial to be absolutely accurate.

Claudine Jones
San Francisco

 [ Song "genealogy" is just as important to music lovers as ancestral
 [ genealogy is to inquisitive descendents, and so thoroughness and
 [ accuracy should always be a goal of researchers and historians in
 [ the respective fields.  And who sez Gershwin couldn't orchestrate?!
 [ _I_ care!  ;-)  -- Robbie