Hi! I learned Barges last year at Girl Scout camp as an Advanced CIT. At Camp Menzies (GSHCC or Sacramento Cali counsil) we're not supposed to sing it because many times it has made the younger girls cry of homesickness. As older girls we were allowed to learn it finally.
The story I heard was that an eight year old girl scout was just starting treatment for cancer in the eighties. She was given a special room that faced the Ohio River and one night she woke up with a melody stuck in her head. When she saw the many Barges in the river, she thought of all the things shell never get to do since she was terminal. She dreamed of sailing away to join pirates where nothing could ever hurt her. The melody floated back in her head and she put the words down on paper. At her last Girl Scout meeting with her troop, she presented it to them and taught them how to sing it. The troop sang it at her funeral the next week, and they taught it to their daughters and fellow girl scouts and spread it that way to never forget the memory of that brave little girl.
Well, that's the story they told me, any how. Needless to say, I cry every single time I hear this song.
Also, in case y'all didn't know, Melinda Carrol has a version of this song on ITunes for sale only 99 cents! It doesn't have all the lyrics I know, but it's beautiful nonetheless.
Hope this helps!
<3,
Annie