From Song Book of the Harvard Club of San Francisco, 1909:

THE LEVEE SONG.

1. I once did know a girl named Grace —
While wukkin' on de levee,
She done brung me to dis sad disgrace
While wukkin' on de levee.

CHORUS. I been wukkin' on de railroad all de livelong day;
I been wukkin' on de railroad ter pass the time away.
Doan' yuh hyah de whistle blo win'? Rise up, so uhly in de mawn;
Doan' yuh hyah de cap'n shoutin', "Dinah, blow yo' hawn"?

2. Sing a song o' the city, roll dat cotton bale;
Niggah ain' half so happy as when he's out o' jail.
Norfolk foh its oystah-shells, Boston for its beans;
Cha'leston foh its rice an' cawn, but foh niggahs — New Awleans.