Wildwood Flower is a variant of the song "I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets", published in 1860 by composer Joseph Philbrick Webster, who wrote the music, with lyrics attributed to Maud Irving. Other versions of the song have evolved, including "The Pale Amaranthus" (collected in Kentucky and North Carolina, reported in 1911), "Raven Black Hair" and "The Pale Wildwood Flower" (collected 1915–1919), and "The Frail Wildwood Flower". The lyrics are derived from The old Scots ballad "The Lass of Roch Royal" (Child #76) which is also known as "Lord Gregory". The original Carter Family first recorded "Wildwood Flower" in 1928 on the Victor label. Maybelle Carter leads a rendition of the song on the 1972 album Will the Circle be Unbroken. It has also been recorded by many others including Hank Thompson, Merle Travis and Joan Baez. The tune plays well on guitar with Mayelle's thumb lead and scratch technique. Woody Guthrie used the melody for "The Sinking of the Reuben James" and added a chorus.