You be the judge.
Otto Kelland is best known in Newfoundland as the writer of the ballad “Let me fish off Cape St. Mary’s”, written in 1947.
Now take a listen to this song - “The Hills of old Wyoming’ - which dates from 1937 at the latest.
And if you really want to do a spit-take, try this sample of the song recorded in 2009.
Now that really isn’t the end of it.
Same song?There’s a much older song – “Barbara Allen” – which has been documented from its first printing in 1750 and is mentioned in Samuel Pepys’ diary from 1666. There are a great many variations on both the lyrics and tune for this song but some of the more common tunes sound suspiciously familiar to Kelland’s work and to the Wyoming song.
-srbp-
Updated with new video links: June 2016