Actually, both the "Nobody knows but Jesus" and "Nobody knows my sorrow" versions are traditional, long-standing versions (and I can't find any clear indication of which is the "original" on the web.) Given the origin of the song, its quite likely lots of variations existed before it was written down.

Salon didn't edit anything.

I don't think I've ever heard the "but Jesus" version.

It's the version that was in Spaceballs, if memory serves.