This video is presented as an historical reference by Empty Set Group, producers of "Waiting For A Train", the new Jimmie Rodgers musical. Information on the musical can be found at www.waitingforatrain.com.
It's most likely derived from the 19th Century tune ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1aQd99zfIRo.html, about a soldier who died from V.D.
Cultural exchange is not cultural appropriation. The ultimate origin of this song is a British ballad-it was not appropriated by anyone to start with, just exchanged. Jimmie credited the black musicians of his youth even back in the day & moreover, he influenced the next generation of them. The Mississippi sheiks & howlin’ wolf both claimed him as an influence, God knows he held the racial beliefs which were part & parcel of white, Southern men at the time and that he performed in blackface etc; but he was his own thing-not a white face for black music.
It's basically the same song as St. James Infirmary which first appeared in America in Appalachia, but may date back to 18th century Britain. see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James_Infirmary_Blues
