Hi, Bo,
Here's a recording by Carla Sciaky of the Lotus Dickey melody:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f3Dn-ebpjY

Alternate (Amidons): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2lZtWfKNsw

Here are the notes on the song from The Lotus Dickey Songbook (Nancy McEntire, Grey Larsen, and Janne Henshaw):

83. A Psalm of Life
Based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, this song never fails to uplift its listeners. Lotus learned it from his father, Marion Dickey.
¦ Lotus taught it to Karen Billings Sutherland and Pete Sutherland during a long car trip, coming home from a music festival. "When I trav¬
eled with Lotus," says Karen, “I felt that I was in the presence of my ancestors. Lotus followed the older practice of telling stories while trav-
eling.”" ¦ This transcription is based on Pete Sutherland's rendition, found on his album, Mountain Hornpipe (see Discography). Although
Pete sings it in the key of F, he plays guitar chords in the key of C with a capo placed on the fifth fret.

And none of this answers your question, I know.