Thanks, Bryan.
Yep, that explanation of the difference in lyrics makes sense. No arrangers, agents, or promoters were following those old guys around with recorders to catch their every word. They had to "sing into a can" somewhere at a studio far from home. And even then, not everybody has an Edison victrola to play the records.
JB

IMHO I think the version by Maurice Barzas is the best.

Yep! that's the joy and wonder of the "folk process"