When I teach a unit about songs, games, and dances of the pioneers, this song gets the most requests. It's funny and the dance can be complicated, or as simple as one dancer improvising in the middle of a circle of singers.
Sources: Ed. by Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar. An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p. 359
Lomax, John and Alan. American Ballads and Folk Songs p. 258
Youtube has a great video of Fox and Branch playing their version of the song.
