Thank you all for your kind replies. My grandpa was from Shawneetown IL and I made a trip with him and grandma when I was old enough to appreciate it. He'd always said "I'd love to go down to the old home with you, you wouldn't believe it." We saw the log/clapboard home my great great grandpa built after the civil war. It was one of the bright moments of my life. We saw "Old" and "New" Shawneetown.

Now, I heard Shawneetown for the first time when I went to Napster to check out Martin Simpson. Sam Paretti, his student, also has a wonderful version. I just can't stop listening to it and it gives me such strength. It's real and true and, based on the variants above, you know it's been sung by men who were making the trip.

I do think it's "beach oar" as there were two on the old style barges one toward the beach/bank and one toward the middle and the one toward the beach drags in the shallows.

Thanks again to all.