Nostalgia! I sang this song at Girl Scout Camp around the early to mid-60's in Wyoming, learned from my favorite counsellor "Piney." We had only the two verses mentioned above, in two part harmony. As to the origin, I most enjoyed the axe murderer story from Kamp Kwagmire, but I imagine the story about a camp counselor writng the song is probably correct.

I don't recall hearing the little dying girl story, so the song didn't seem so sad to me, only a wistful campfire song. Out in the wilds of Wyoming, I had never seen barges, and didn't understand the line about starboard and port!

Another song I remember - the round "Dip Dip and Swing" about canoe paddles. We didn't have a river to canoe in, only a stream to splash in, and rocks and sagebrush.

-Linda