I've mentioned this elsewhere, in other threads about this song:

Have you noticed that the same melody is used for the hymn...

Glory glory, halleluliah
When I lay my burden down.
Glory glory, halleluliah
When I lay my burden down.

Burden down, Lord, burden down,
When I lay my burden down
Burden down, Lord, burden down,
When I lay my burden down

I think of Circle as the country/white version and Glory as the New Orleans/Black/street-parade version. Once is about a funeral and the other is written to be sung at a funeral...and in fact is always featured at traditional jazz funerals.