"Man of Constant Sorrow" is a mountain equivalent of the blues, however, I have not found any connection to any specific black blues. This song was first published in 1913 by the blind folk singer Richard Burnett. Burnett recorded his version for Columbia Records in 1927, but the label refused to release it and even destroyed the master. Burnett's friend and fellow Kentuckian Emry Arthur made the first commercial release the following year under the title "Man of Constant Sorrow". Depending on the gender of the singer, the gender of the subject is given as either "man" or "maid". This has been recorded by many people including Joan Baez, Judy Collins, the Stanley Brothers, Alison Kraus, the New Lost City Ramblers and others. It was used in the movie O Brother Where Art Thou? where it is sung by the main characters posing as a singing group called "The Soggy Bottom Boys".