Rowan's mention of The rabbit trapper cracked me up. Is the the one about the canny bunny snatcher? Not well known here! Nice to know it's a standard chorus song elsewhere.

Familiarity really is the one necessary qualification to get lots of participation. That is why there are no "standard" songs, only chorus songs that are standard for a given area and period of time. Time is a factor. Songs go in and out of fashion. A song may be very popular but if the person who generally leads it moves away, etc, there may be no one who takes it up. Lots of songs we (the FSGW folks) sang when the Boarding Party were performing are seldom sung now unless you get a critical mass of people who remember them from Back When.

I agree with Liz, a good chorus has to be memorable. With a really good chorus you'll still be humming or singing it after the song or the event is over.