Heard Kerner, Ray and Glover sing this in the '60s, but I remember it mostly because of the late David Tengren of Norton, Mass., who used to sing it occasionally while doing his work. Dave Wielded a mallet and chisels, not to mention chain saw, adze and broad ax, as a carver of totem poles and statues.
Sorry for the thread creep, but it struck me that it might be of interest to someone that an old railroad work song lived on for a time as a wood-carving song.
In turn, Tengren's work inspired a haiku by his friend Daniel Grady: Arms ache
My work done
Toast thanks
To the setting sun
Chisels lie still