This is obviously a work song used to help a large group coordinate the timing of their efforts on projects where it is vital to all move at the same time. This struck me as also being in the similar tradition as some sea chanties which also served the same purpose for sailors pulling on ropes to raise sails and such. I use "What do you do with a drunken sailor?" with my guitar class as an example of the same type of issues. It works there because it has a very simple chord progression of only two chords.
The immediate call-and-response technique used here makes it very easy to follow. The leader directs the progression of the story as he moves from stanza to stanza and the group provides the immediate echo each time. The melody is fairly simple, which is important for a large group to be able to follow on the fly, yet the leader does provide interest by varying it from time to time and the group follows.
Although the lyrics used here do speak specifically of outrunning the law, it also seems likely that early versions would have focused more on the plight of runaway slaves being pursued by slave catchers. Both versions would rightly make use of the imagery of being chased by dogs and trying to reconnect with loved ones.
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