Stringsinger, Thanks for pointing out the inclusion of the song in "Songbird's Sandbag". I checked out my copy and thought that as the original poster was looking for background he migh be interested to know Sandburg's comments:
Learned by three regular army men in jail in Oklahoma "A white man's rearrangement of a negro wail such as one recorded in a publication of The Texas Folklore Society".
Sandburg's book was published in 1927.
I guess it was the late 50's when your version was in Sing Out.

Hoot