While poking round for information on this song I happened on this thread. Lomax collected it from menhaden fishermen in Virginia, and there's some good lore at this link. The Lomax archives have several different versions of this song, all with exquisite harmony. The first, done a capella, is the most traditional, with the pauses and "chatter" between after each refrain that characterizes menhaden chanties. Interestingly, it does not have the "Bye bye, bye bye" chorus, although the other versions (with guitar accompaniment) do. That leaves me wondering whether the chorus was traditional but they just didn't do it the first time around, was suggested by Lomax, or was worked up by all of them together when they were coming up with their more "commercial" arrangement.

Here's a link to the Lomax recording of Sweet Rosie Anna, a capella and with chatter. One fun thing to note - unlike the Northern Neck Chanteymen, the chatter these guys do is oriented toward the singing rather than the work done. This group was clearly used to performance.

Dan