"Working on the Levee," Dunn, on Arhoolie 448, "Prison Worksongs" (Louisiana State Penitentiary).
Clips don't sound like anything related to Levee Song.

There is a website that says 'working on the railroad' "was first popular with workers on the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas rail line, built along the Mississippi in 1883/1884." http://perfessorbill.com/pbmidi9.shtml
Is this a made up story?
He also says 'Dinah' has been traced to a separate song from the 1850s, but again, where is the documentation that the Dinah's are related?

The same site, but also others, point to an Irish melody used for the song, but I have never found verification.