I find it hard to believe that this was a shanty. Sound more like a folk song but possibly of a forebitter origin. If it was sung by the Menhaden Chanteymen, as suggested, then it may have fishing trade links. I heard that it was from a fish processing plant in Weldon NC. However, there was huge railroad in Weldon and it could have come from a railroad singing tradition, maybe railroad yard. I am an Irish singer who has recorded an a Capella rendering of this song.