Low Bridge, Everybody Down (The Erie Canal Song)

Thomas Allen

Released in 1905, this song was written to commemorate nearly 80 years of history of the Erie Canal. As you can tell by the title, Allen writes about how the passengers liked to sit on the roofs of the canal boats while traveling. However, when they were approaching a low bridge, they would either have to duck down or get down from the roof entirely. Over the years, a few of the original lyrics have changed. For example, Allen originally wrote the lyrics “Fifteen years on the Erie Canal” whereas today it is fifteen miles. The original lyrics refer to the amount of time he worked on the canal with his mule, Sal. The modern version refers to the average distance that a mule pulled a boat through the canal.

 

I’ve got an old mule and her name is Sal
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
She’s a good old worker and a good old pal
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
We’ve hauled some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal, and hay
And every inch of the way we know
From Albany to Buffalo

Chorus:
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge for we’re coming to a town
And you’ll always know your neighbor
And you’ll always know your pal
If you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal

We’d better look ’round for a job old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
‘Cause you bet your life I’d never part with Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Git up there 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

Chorus

Oh, where would I be if I lost my pal?
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Oh, I’d like to see a mule as good as Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
A friend of mine once got her sore
Now he’s got a busted jaw,
‘Cause she let fly with her iron toe,
And kicked him in to Buffalo.

Chorus

Don’t have to call when I want my Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She trots from her stall like a good old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
I eat my meals with Sal each day
I eat beef and she eats hay
And she ain’t so slow if you want to know
She put the “Buff” in Buffalo

Chorus