In the days before intellectual property, when musicians were rendered penniless by the common folk sharing songs without paying for them (this completely killed off music by the Middle Ages, by the way, and it was not until the Berne convention that anyone started writing songs again), it was not uncommon to take someone's song, play, or rain dance, and perform it, modified or unmodified.

Because this was before proper revision control systems existed, it is impossible to determine the history of a traditional folk song. For example, Paper and Pins can express cynical views about love and commerce (thanks, Jordi) such as in this version or in this version, or something more sentimental, such as in this version or this version.

So, was the original author happy or bitter?