Erie Canal Song by Thomas S. Allen. The Erie Canal Song, as it is commonly known by today, was written in 1905 under the title Low Bridge, Everybody Down about life on the Erie Canal. In addition to the The Erie Canal Song and Low Bridge, Everybody Down titles, the song has also been referred to by the following names over the years: Fifteen Years on the Erie Canal, Mule Named Sal and Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal. I remember this song ever so well from my childhood and still like it.
We sang this folk song in elementary school in a small town in West Texas. Later I married a woman whose family had a store at a lock on the Erie Canal in Central New York. They were surprised that I knew the song. Her family still owns a house across the road from the modern canal.
Learned this song in elementary school in Carmel, California - loved it then, love it now - and LOVED finding Springsteen had done it in concert! THE BOSS!!!
This song just came into my head. we learned the original version in elementary music. As a Western New Yorker, it's really cool to hear people across the pond singing this. I never new Springstein did a cover.
I live in Syracuse NY where there are still sections of the original canal. There still exsists an aquaduct still filled with water. It's in Camillus. It is used all the time by canoe. During the winter you can skate for miles
Aqueducts were one of the new features of the "expanded/improved" Erie Canal. In most places, It was dug parallel to the original canal (called Clinton's Ditch (b.1917 -- 1925) The improved canal is now called the OLD Erie Canal* consited of manmade channels that allowed for control of water levels all along the canal (A huge advance!) There were no longer locks on each side of a creek or small river that the boats had to go down, cross the natural channel (towed my mules going across on a bridge) and be lifted up in another lockto the canal path (i.e. prism, berm and towpath) *The Erie Canal was replaced by the Barge Canal (b.1903/05 -- 1918) that takes advantage of dredged river channels and also natural lakes. It still has locks (only 35 locks) Clinton's Ditch had 84 lift locks and 13 stream/river locks. The Old Erie Canal had about 60-some lift locks and no lateral/river locks.
Hey Bruce we are walking the Erie Canal right now. Great song. We play it first thing in the morning while hiking and end our day with a cold drink and this song.
I was on holiday in France, visiting family. One night we’re having a few drinks and relaxing to music, my step-Dad put this on and it was the first time I’d heard it. I’m now addicted 😂
WOW! I've been singing this song to the grandkids and checked out Bruce's version. This is so great. Love the arrangement and what else the band brings as well as Bruce's soulful singing.
I grew up near lock 6 and 7 so this was a standard song in elementary school for almost any NYS school kid. My kids in MA outside of Boston even learned it. But in Dublin that's a bit out of the neighborhood. Yeah there's an awesome trail for biking etc now in the summer. Really nice in the summer.
My late dad sang this to me when I was a little boy, over sixty years ago. Can't listen to this without shedding a tear. What a great rendition! "You'll always know neighbour, you'll always know your pal. . ."
Bruce Springsteen, you do good with this Erie Canal song, but I wish it had the words running across the screen so the wife and I could sing along with it.
I gotta mule and her name is Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. She’s a good old worker and a good old pal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. We’d haul some barges in our day, filled with lumber, coal and hay. We know every inch of the way, from Albany to Buffalo. Low bridge! Everybody down, low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal! Better look around for a job old gal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Bet your life I’d never part with Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Get up mule here comes a lock, we’ll make Rome by six o’clock. One more trip and back we’ll go; right back home to Buffalo. Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbours and you’ll always know your pal if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal. *Instrumental awesomeness* Where would I be if I lost my pal? Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. I’d like to see a mule good as my Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Friend of mine once got her sore, now he’s got a broken jaw. She let fly with an iron toe, and kicked him back to Buffalo. Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal. Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever made a living on the Erie Canal!
I gotta mule and her name is Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. She’s a good old worker and a good old pal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. We’d haul some barges in our day, filled with lumber, coal and hay. We know every inch of the way, from Albany to Buffalo. Low bridge! Everybody down, low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal! Better look around for a job old gal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Bet your life I’d never part with Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Get up mule here comes a lock, we’ll make Rome by six o’clock. One more trip and back we’ll go; right back home to Buffalo. Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbours and you’ll always know your pal if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal. *Instrumental awesomeness* Where would I be if I lost my pal? Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. I’d like to see a mule good as my Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Friend of mine once got her sore, now he’s got a broken jaw. She let fly with an iron toe, and kicked him back to Buffalo. Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal. Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever made a living on the Erie Canal!
@stflaw The original (written in 1902) was in the Tin Pan Alley style (more like a Minstral song. not jazzy) In 1901/1902 NY state announced that it would be constructing a new canal: Barge Canal (b.1903 -- 1918) AND THAT It would be using almost a whole new route. Also that the new canal would be much wider and deeper (over 12/deep/ 3.7+ m. deep) to accomadte 1.) larger (steel) barges that could also operate on the Great Lakes. Therefore eliminating transfer of cargo from a lake vessel to a barge vessel. And ... 2.) Barges that used coal (and later) diesel fuel engines (No towpath) No wonder some people felt sentimental about the OLD Erie Canal.
I've got a mule and her name is Sal Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal She's a good old worker and a good old pal Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal We haul'd some barges in our day Filled with lumber, coal, and hay We know every inch of the way From Albany to Buffalo Low bridge, everybody down Low bridge, yeah we're coming to a town And you'll always know your neighbor And you'll always know your pal If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal We'd better look around for a job, old gal Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal You can bet your life I'll never part with Sal Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal Get up mule, here comes a lock We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock One more trip and back we'll go Right back home to Buffalo Low bridge, everybody down Low bridge, we're coming to a town You'll always know your neighbor And you'll always know your pal If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal Where would I be if I lost my pal Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal I'd like to see a mule good as my Sal Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal A friend of mine once got her sore Now he's got a broken jaw 'Cause she let fly with an iron toe And kicked him back to Buffalo Low bridge, everybody down Low bridge 'cause we're coming to a town You'll always know your neighbor And you'll always know your pal If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal Low bridge, everybody down Low bridge, we're coming to a town You'll always know your neighbor And you'll always know your pal If ya ever made a livin' on the Erie Canal Low bridge, everybody down* Low bridge, we're coming to a town* You'll always know your neighbor* And you'll always know your pal* If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal* Low bridge, everybody down Low bridge, we're coming to a town Hooo...
15 miles was inserted in some versions later on. The orginal had much more regarding Sal. 15 miles doesn't make much sense to me. Although, I do not know how many miles were covered in 24 hours. If I am not mistaken 15 years was the working lifespan of a young mule (barring injury or illness)
Sang this in grade school. My favorite. Sang it to the grandkids when they were crying. It worked. They stopped and just starred.
Erie Canal Song by Thomas S. Allen. The Erie Canal Song, as it is commonly known by today, was written in 1905 under the title Low Bridge, Everybody Down about life on the Erie Canal. In addition to the The Erie Canal Song and Low Bridge, Everybody Down titles, the song has also been referred to by the following names over the years: Fifteen Years on the Erie Canal, Mule Named Sal and Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal.
I remember this song ever so well from my childhood and still like it.
My grandfather was a cook on a barge on the Erie Canal. Medina/Lockport was home.
This would be a perfect 2nd Line.
We sang this folk song in elementary school in a small town in West Texas. Later I married a woman whose family had a store at a lock on the Erie Canal in Central New York. They were surprised that I knew the song. Her family still owns a house across the road from the modern canal.
Learned this song in elementary school in Carmel, California - loved it then, love it now - and LOVED finding Springsteen had done it in concert! THE BOSS!!!
Underrated Bruce album
This song just came into my head. we learned the original version in elementary music. As a Western New Yorker, it's really cool to hear people across the pond singing this. I never new Springstein did a cover.
Same.
I went to school out in Greece and learned this song. Now I live near Syracuse and no one I’ve talked to knows the song
@@jamesf9417 possibly because orangemen bad. they think they are the center of the state or something
@@k.sikkema309 welcome to Buffalo. you can see lots of snow and chicken wings. And of course the amazing Buffalo Bills. :-)
@@jamesf9417 Syracuse New York?? For shame. SHAME
This song inspired me to ride the entire Erie Canal Trail.
Hope you stopped off in Canastota!
This is a great version of the song.
I live in Syracuse NY where there are still sections of the original canal. There still exsists an aquaduct still filled with water. It's in Camillus. It is used all the time by canoe. During the winter you can skate for miles
Aqueducts were one of
the new features of the
"expanded/improved"
Erie Canal. In most
places, It was dug
parallel to the original
canal (called Clinton's
Ditch (b.1917 -- 1925)
The improved canal
is now called the OLD
Erie Canal* consited
of manmade channels
that allowed for
control of water levels
all along the canal
(A huge advance!)
There were no longer
locks on each side of
a creek or small river
that the boats had
to go down, cross
the natural channel
(towed my mules
going across on
a bridge) and be
lifted up in another
lockto the canal
path (i.e. prism, berm
and towpath)
*The Erie Canal was
replaced by the
Barge Canal
(b.1903/05 -- 1918)
that takes advantage
of dredged river
channels and also
natural lakes. It
still has locks
(only 35 locks)
Clinton's Ditch had
84 lift locks and
13 stream/river
locks.
The Old Erie Canal
had about 60-some
lift locks and no
lateral/river locks.
Sadly the city never should have been allowed to fill in the canal and replace it with Erie Blvd. Hind sight is always 20/20.
One of my preferred songs to listen to when visiting upstate NY
Hey Bruce we are walking the Erie Canal right now. Great song. We play it first thing in the morning while hiking and end our day with a cold drink and this song.
I was on holiday in France, visiting family. One night we’re having a few drinks and relaxing to music, my step-Dad put this on and it was the first time I’d heard it. I’m now addicted 😂
I grew up in New England we learned This song in the seventies when I was in elementary school
WOW! I've been singing this song to the grandkids and checked out Bruce's version. This is so great. Love the arrangement and what else the band brings as well as Bruce's soulful singing.
I grew up near lock 6 and 7 so this was a standard song in elementary school for almost any NYS school kid. My kids in MA outside of Boston even learned it. But in Dublin that's a bit out of the neighborhood. Yeah there's an awesome trail for biking etc now in the summer. Really nice in the summer.
Its amazing how far of a reach this song has!
As a resident of Rome, New York; it's latterly in my backyard and the history that comes with it
What a great rendition of this song.
We are learning about the erie canal right now and we listened to this song
Oh, those horns!
A great rendition of a great song. One of my favourites.
I used to Sing this song in music class in grade school :)
Sunteți speciali, minunați ❤❤❤❤❤
Best acoustic concert evah
As soon as the song lyrics mentioned Rome New York my hometown I get goosebumps
Awesome work Bruce
My late dad sang this to me when I was a little boy, over sixty years ago. Can't listen to this without shedding a tear. What a great rendition! "You'll always know neighbour, you'll always know your pal. . ."
Thank you Bruce love all of your music
this is the perfect song
Definitely a Bruce Springsteen classic.
POV: a old song from your childhood years you were taught and school and decided to listen to it again
Bruce and Sessions Band is sensational !! Thank you Bruce Springsteen
Thank you Bruce Springsteen 👏 😉
Bellissima musica folk americana....a Udine con la Session band...concerto unico come unico sei tu boss!!grazie di esistere 💕💕🇮🇪
quan un toka Irlandes
The Boss ❤..
We learned this in music class, grade 4. Long time ago, for sure.Love the brass.
We learned it in grade school too. Loved hearing it again with the audience singing.
This song is amazing and his performances are perfect♥️love this man.
Coinvolgente! Grazie Grande Bruce
Awsome song, thank you Bruce!.
I really love this kind of music.
Perfect!
The Boss 💓👏👏👏
Just love and thanks Mr.Springsteen !!! You are the Boss and the best musician ever !!!and for ever !!!
and long life !!!
Bruce❤
Wonderful Song, thank you Bruce Springsteen forever
Bruce, quando vira no Brasil? Patti vc também que seje logo por favor. Edna do Brasil.
I love it. Great!
Meu sonho de consumo... kkkk acho um charme... linda canção... parabéns!!!
Perfeito como sempre 😚😚😚😚😚
AMO esse show
Presente de Deus! Obrigada!!
Your the best
Love that Boss
Show!!!
thank you
No problem
Don’t care for him. But I see and hear greatness.
The weavers originally did it this was from the pete Seeger sessions soooooo good
Was first recorded in 1913, a full 30 years before the Weavers were formed. 6 years before Pete Seeger was born.
Collllllll fire
My hubby loves this version.
I thought I was the only one who remembered
...from Albany to Buffaloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, Low bridge everybody down...
This is about as Americana as it gets!
exept its in ireland and the irish built the erie canal.
i love you
Thank you
Bruce Springsteen, you do good with this Erie Canal song, but I wish it had the words running across the screen so the wife and I could sing along with it.
I gotta mule and her name is Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. She’s a good old worker and a good old pal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
We’d haul some barges in our day, filled with lumber, coal and hay. We know every inch of the way, from Albany to Buffalo.
Low bridge! Everybody down, low bridge, we’re coming to a town.
You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal!
Better look around for a job old gal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Bet your life I’d never part with Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Get up mule here comes a lock, we’ll make Rome by six o’clock. One more trip and back we’ll go; right back home to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbours and you’ll always know your pal if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.
*Instrumental awesomeness*
Where would I be if I lost my pal? Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. I’d like to see a mule good as my Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Friend of mine once got her sore, now he’s got a broken jaw. She let fly with an iron toe, and kicked him back to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever made a living on the Erie Canal!
@@Strathclydegamer Thank you!
No problem
The Boss videos are proof of the existence of God
Bhe boss.just fucking awesome.
Eddie Vedder and jazz band just works!
I gotta mule and her name is Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. She’s a good old worker and a good old pal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
We’d haul some barges in our day, filled with lumber, coal and hay. We know every inch of the way, from Albany to Buffalo.
Low bridge! Everybody down, low bridge, we’re coming to a town.
You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal!
Better look around for a job old gal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Bet your life I’d never part with Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Get up mule here comes a lock, we’ll make Rome by six o’clock. One more trip and back we’ll go; right back home to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbours and you’ll always know your pal if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.
*Instrumental awesomeness*
Where would I be if I lost my pal? Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. I’d like to see a mule good as my Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Friend of mine once got her sore, now he’s got a broken jaw. She let fly with an iron toe, and kicked him back to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever made a living on the Erie Canal!
This feels like a New Orleans funeral procession.
My thoughts exactly from the first time i heard this gem!
@stflaw
The original (written in 1902)
was in the Tin Pan Alley style
(more like a Minstral song.
not jazzy)
In 1901/1902 NY state
announced that it would be
constructing a new canal:
Barge Canal (b.1903 -- 1918)
AND THAT
It would be using almost a
whole new route. Also that
the new canal would be much
wider and deeper (over
12/deep/ 3.7+ m. deep)
to accomadte
1.) larger (steel) barges that
could also operate on the
Great Lakes. Therefore
eliminating transfer of cargo
from a lake vessel to a barge
vessel. And ...
2.) Barges that used coal (and
later) diesel fuel engines (No
towpath)
No wonder some people felt
sentimental about the OLD
Erie Canal.
God Coukd he get any sexier singing a song ❣🎶💞
the glory of irish folk Music !
This Song is purest american Folk Music, written by Thomas S. Allen in 1913. Not irish. Please !!
it sounded irish !@@thegreatone6480
Western NY not upstate dingleberry
Sure, but I mean this couldn’t more obviously be American
Rita
Arnold
I've got a mule and her name is Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
We haul'd some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal, and hay
We know every inch of the way
From Albany to Buffalo
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, yeah we're coming to a town
And you'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
We'd better look around for a job, old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
You can bet your life I'll never part with Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Get up mule, here comes a lock
We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock
One more trip and back we'll go
Right back home to Buffalo
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
Where would I be if I lost my pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
I'd like to see a mule good as my Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
A friend of mine once got her sore
Now he's got a broken jaw
'Cause she let fly with an iron toe
And kicked him back to Buffalo
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge 'cause we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever made a livin' on the Erie Canal
Low bridge, everybody down*
Low bridge, we're coming to a town*
You'll always know your neighbor*
And you'll always know your pal*
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal*
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
Hooo...
It's _years_ not _miles_.
I'm sure this change was a conscious decision. From a musical perspective that word flows better with the melody
I have a book of folk songs (had it since the 1950's), printed in 1947. It uses the word "miles", not years.
I learned it as miles over 50 years ago.
ilk yorum @ramazantt99
Whatcha $$$ going to Bruce & Patti?🤔🤣😁Rhetorical, m'Loves 🫂🐚🦜
It’s not 15 miles on the Erie Canal. The correct lyric is 15 years on the Erie Canal.
Springsteen should have at least used the correct lyrics. Lol
15 miles was inserted in
some versions later on.
The orginal had much
more regarding Sal.
15 miles doesn't make
much sense to me.
Although, I do not
know how many
miles were covered
in 24 hours.
If I am not mistaken
15 years was the working
lifespan of a young mule
(barring injury or illness)
Ouch... how did that hack ever become famous? This is an insult to traditional music. The vocals ruin the entire song.
It seems like you haven’t been blinded by the light. Too bad
@@hugotholin1075 Who cares what you think? Myomfb...
Johnny Vee It was just a joke. If you got offended I’m sorry.
@@johnnyvee1721 I could say the same to you, who cares what you said in your original comment? To each their own, so you don't like it. Others do.
Check out Suzy Bogguss' version. Might be more to your liking.