Visit daveruch.com/erie-canal-song for downloadable lyrics and complete song history. "15 Miles on the Erie Canal," "Low Bridge Everybody Down," "The Erie Canal Song" - the song has gone by lots of different names over the years, and the lyrics have changed somewhat from the way Thomas S. Allen wrote it. (Most notably, the refrain is commonly sung today with the word "Miles" replacing "Years" in the refrain.) This video presents all five original verses and choruses - in order - to the song originally titled "Low Bridge, Everybody Down or, Fifteen Years on the Erie Canal." Follow along with the lyrics. NOTE: The audio presented here is compiled from two early recordings: Edward Meeker in 1913 (he only sang verses 1-4), and Vernon Dalhart from 1929 (the only early artist to record verse #5). I have edited some laughs, monologue, and general silliness out of the Edward Meeker version in order to present the lyrics unaltered. To hear Meeker's full version with lots of "cutting up," and several other early recordings, visit daveruch.com/erie-canal-song and scroll to the "Early Recorded Versions" section. ORIGINAL LYRICS - Low Bridge, Everybody Down or, Fifteen Years on the Erie Canal by Thomas S. Allen 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 ev’ry inch of the way I know, From Albany to Buffalo Chorus: Low bridge, ev’rybody down, Low bridge, we must be getting near a town You can always tell your neighbor, You can always tell your pal If he’s ever navigated on the Erie Canal We’d better look ‘round for a job old gal, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal You bet your life I wouldn’t part with Sal, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal Giddap there gal we’ve passed that lock, We’ll make Rome ‘fore six o-clock So one more trip and then we’ll go, Right straight back to Buffalo Chorus: Low bridge, ev’rybody down, Low bridge, I’ve got the finest mule in town Once a man named Mike McGinty tried to put it over Sal Now he’s way down at the bottom of the Erie Canal Oh, where would I be if I lost my pal?, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal Oh, I’d like to see a mule as good as Sal, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal A friend of mine once got her sore, Now, he’s got a broken jaw ‘Cause she let fly with her iron toe, And kicked him into Buffalo Chorus: Low bridge, ev’rybody down, Low bridge, I’ve got the finest mule in town If you’re looking ‘round for trouble, better stay away from Sal She’s the only fighting donkey on the Erie Canal I don’t have to call when I want my Sal, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal She trots from her stall like a good old gal, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal I eat my meals with Sal each day, I eat beef and she eats hay She ain’t so slow if you want to know, She put the “Buff” in Buffalo Chorus: Low bridge, ev’rybody down, Low bridge, I’ve got the finest mule in town Eats a bale of hay for dinner, and on top of that, my Sal Tries to drink up all the water in the Erie Canal You’ll soon hear them sing all about my gal, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal It’s a darned fool ditty ‘bout my darned fool Sal, Fifteen years on the Erie Canal Oh, every band will play it soon, Darned fool words and darned fool tune You’ll hear it sung everywhere you go, from Mexico to Buffalo Chorus: Low bridge, ev’rybody down, Low bridge, I’ve got the finest mule in town She’s a perfect, perfect lady, and she blushes like a gal If she hears you sing about her and the Erie Canal.

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