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American Ballads and Folk Songs |
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THE ERIE CANAL BALLAD
From Professor J. V. Denney, Head of the English Department, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Sung to the tune of "Old Black Joe."
Once I was a brakeman on the E-r-i-e Canal j I fell in love with the cook, a cross-eyed gal named Sal, She shook me for the driver, a red-headed son of a gun And left me here as you may see—a poor old bum.
Chorus:
I'm going, I'm going, for I know my time has come! And to the workhouse I must go, a poor old bum. As a free-lunch destroyer, I'm the terror of the route, I can wrastle with the sausage or a plate of sauerkraut And when I get a plate of beans, oh, don't I make them
hum! They're such a solid comfort to a poor old bum.
From E. R. Herriman, Syracuse, New York, about May 1, 1933:
I've just come down from Buffalo Upon the great boat "Danger; Had a long trip on the Erie And I feel just like a stranger.
Chorus:
Haul in your bowlines,
Stand by your saddle mules,
Don't dodge your head for low bridges,
Don't act so like a fool!
Keep up your courage, boys,
We'll land you safely in,
And when we get to Buffalo, boys,
We'll roll in barrels of gin.
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