OK, I've listened. The part that sounds a bit like the Gourd is NOT the signature melody that goes with the "Follow the Drinking Gourd" lyrics. Rather, it is the snippet paired with "For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom". Both this lyric and melodic snippet were written by Lee Hays, they are not original.

One expert I checked with said, "The song (my note: as arranged by Hays) has a northern states Protestant march cum hymnbook sound, like "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" or "Battlefield o/t Republic." And others have heard the same dotted note/descending scale pattern of "Johnny Comes Marching Home" in the Hays arrangement as well.

My $.02, anyway.

Thanks for the pointer!

Joel