Printed in the book "Songs Sung By R. D. BURNETT. The blind man", Monticello, Kentucky.
Burnett is generally considered the author of the song, although he himself wasn't so sure about it. In a 1973 interview, he said: "I think I got it from somebody... I dunno, it may be my song..."
The composition year could be the same as the publication year, judging from the line: "Oh, six long years I've been blind, friends" (Burnett was blinded in 1907.)
More famous under the title "Man of Constant Sorrow".