The Dorian mode melody was first published as "Shady Grove" in the Journal of American Folklore in 1915, but it was traditionally used in Appalachia for the ballad Matty Groves, as sung by traditional singers including Sheila Kay Adams ("Lady Margaret") and Dillard Chandler ("Mathie Groves"). This suggests that the melody may originate in England or Scotland.
The Dorian mode melody was first documented in the Journal of American Folklore in 1915 under the title "Shady Grove", but it had been a long-standing part of Appalachian folk music, used in traditional performances of Matty Groves by artists like Sheila Kay Adams and Dillard Chandler. This suggests that its origins may lie across the Atlantic.