A lot of folks like this song with the Lakes of Ponchartrain melody - but looking back at some of the other discussions, this isn't the usual melody- ALTHOUGH, I am given to understand that this particular tune is itself very very old.

I believe I have read - and I'm just rattling my brain here - that one of the more traditional melodies is in a minor key, and somehow related to the House of the Rising Sun melody. Mister's uncle, an old folker in his own right, sings it that way.