Jim-

This seems to be one of those "yes" and "no" questions which will go unresolved. I would agree that it would be rare for any cowboy, lumberjack, or sailor to sing of the joys of such work while they were doing it, and might prefer to sing of the joys of doing something else. However, in their off-hours they certainly would sing ballads about work-related incidents, some amusing, some tragic, as well as various "escape" ballads.

I don't think Finger's generalization holds water, now or in 1927.

I would suggest that every trade had its songs, full of jargon, and most of them set to well known popular tunes. They may not have been great songs and may not have lasted much longer than an evening or a special event in terms of being passed on in oral tradition. But enough examples were written down in letters or diaries to make an impressive record. My most recent find of such an occupational song was a special event ditty composed by a worker to commemorate the end of the ice-cutting season on the Kennebec River in the early 1900's, regaling the exploits and mishaps of the season.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble