Songs from Canal Days
New CD Now
Available as of July 13, 2001
Use this link to open a printable Order Form (in a new window) to send along with your order.
Updated August 7, 2003
The Songs: The songs on this recording evoke the feeling of life and times during
canal days including two traditional songs that were sung by workers along the
canal, two songs about the
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Here are brief mp3 cuts from some of the songs on
the CD to give an idea of the sound. |
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upload mp3 files. Thus, I am not certain what the results will be as you
click on the above links. You will need an mp3 player to hear them. Depending
on your security settings, the files may play immediately, you may get an
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me know if they present any playing problems for you so that I can continue
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The Performances: Bill and Linda sing these songs accompanying themselves on mountain
dulcimers, guitars, recorders, autoharp, banjo, banjo-guitar, bass guitar,
bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, jug, and more. Lyrics are included for all
of the songs. Written versions of the songs are also available in Linda’s Songs
from Canal Days for the Mountain Dulcimer and from Bill’s Dulci-More Public
Domain Songbook.
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Linda Sigismondi |
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To order: Send check or money order for $17.00 per CD ($15.00 for CD plus $2.00
for shipping/handling) to Bill or Linda. While we encourage folks to buy directly
from the artists (in person or by mail order), we do understand that it is good
to have the convenience of ordering by credit card, and we do not have our own
secure server and/or arrangements with credit card companies. Therefore, for
your convenience, our CDs are also available for online credit card orders from
CDBaby.com and from Amazon.com Use the provided links or go to the
sites on your own and use the search features to find our CDs.
Background of the CD: At various
dulcimer and folk festivals, Bill and Linda had been singing around campfires,
during workshops, and in concerts together for several years before starting
this recording. They drew from similar sources for different arrangements of
many songs and found ways to make them work together, but they didn’t have any
of the material on this recording in their repertoires. Each was approached
separately during Dulcimer Days at
Linda Sigismondi's interest in
folk music began with singing and playing guitar around the campfire at Girl
Scout camp, and she has continued since, adding mountain dulcimer to her
repertoire in the early 1980’s. Linda is the founder and leader of the Banks of
the Ohio Dulcimer Club which performs in southeastern
Songs
from Canal Days
1 The Old Canal
2 A Canal Dance
3 The Old Skipper
4
5 It’s Pleasant to Run in Full Moon 1:23
6 Canal Boat Wedding
7 The Er-i-e Canal
8 The
9 In the Good Old Summertime
10 Little Sally Waters
11 The Clever Skipper
12 My
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14 Get That Boat 2:31
15 The Mules Ran Off
16 Last Trip in the Fall
17 That Old Towpath
Instrumentation
Vocal -- All Tracks 12 String Guitar -- 14, 15
6 String Guitar -- 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16
Autoharp -- 4, 17 Banjo -- 7
Banjo Guitar -- 2, 11, 15 Bass Guitar -- 10, 17
Dulcimette -- 3 Hammered Dulcimer -- 15
High and Low Bowed Psaltery -- 9
Jug -- 2, 15 Kazoo -- 15 Spoons -- 15
Alto Recorder -- 1, 5, 12, 15 Sopranino Recorder -- 1, 4
Soprano Recorder -- 12 Tenor Recorder -- 4, 9, 13, 15, 16
Linda
Sigismondi
Vocal -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
6 String Guitar -- 2, 9, 12, 13, 16
Dulcimette -- 6 Bass Guitar -- 7, 8
Clogging -- 2 Kazoo -- 15 Shakes -- 15
Marge Diamond
Kazoo -- 15
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The This song is to
the tune "Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane." Pearl Nye’s lyrics are
detailed descriptions and measurements of the canal, canal boats, and the
locks. Below are 3 of the 78 verses he wrote for this song. There's a little
silver ribbon runs across the 'Tis the dearest
place of all this earth to me, For upon its
placid surface I was born some years ago, And its beauty,
grandeur, always do I see. While its side
cuts they are many, many, Pal; And where e'er we
went we took along our Home, Sweet Home, you know, In those balmy
days upon the old canal. There's naught in all creation that to this can
compare, Good times, rounds of pleasure were our lot, dear
Pal. No other people e'er were known to have such times
as we, In those balmy days upon the old canal. The locks were
so majestic, vine-clad, overhanging trees; Moss and
flowers in profusion everywhere. The song of
laughing water rippling, and the tumble roar, Nature smiling,
everything without a care. Birds would
join in chorus, katydids and crickets, too. Whippoorwills,
owls, frogs, their parts would play, dear Pal. The fish in
schools would jump and keep our hooks so bright and nice. It was great to
be upon the old canal. The locks were
fifteen in the clear and ninety foot in length, Six to twelve foot
lift; you'll find this all along. The boats were the
most beautiful, fairy-like you know; How they'd blend
and serenade in sweetest song. Our boats,
fourteen by eighty feet and eighty tons their load. No people had such
times as we, dear Pal. Our fairy palaces
were so charming everywhere we went, In those matchless
days upon the old canal. |
A Canal Dance This song is set
to the tune "Little Brown Jug." These lyrics by Pearl Nye describe
one of the social events that would occur when the canal boat docked in a
town for the night. The canalers would set up a little dance band and
townfolk would come to the canal for entertainment. One night in On the weightlock
platform we did prance, It was ice cream,
cake, oh, what a time! In a little while
the sun did shine. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh, what fun! We had that night, yes, everyone. The mules would winnow, kick, and prance. They tried so hard to join our dance. Dear Dad
thought he was young again, So his partner
grabbed and did he spin! Till he hit a
nail and took a fall, Yes, and how we
laughed, oh, one and all! Some would clog,
others buck and wing, But the old square
dance beat anything; Yes it made you
feel so young and gay, And after all, it
was just play, play. At the
lockhouse, how the cats would yell! The dogs would
bark, mules throw a spell; How the
chickens cackled and would crow, Was better than
Mr. Barnum's show! Well, I'm up in
years, yet young, young, young, But a better life
could never come; Let others do as
they choose, dear pal, But I will stay on
the old canal. |
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The Old
Skipper This song is to
the tune of "Whiskey Waltz." Pearl Nye’s lyrics in this song tell a
little about the type of goods that were transported on the canal. I'm an old canal
boat skipper with black snake in hand, So fare you well,
darling, my mules will not stand. The line's on the
deadeye, for I love the old
towpath, best place I have found. I've been on
the lakes and the rivers, oh, boy, But my dear
Silver Ribbon is the place I enjoy. 'Tis a place oh
so matchless, each day new things born, And I love to
boat wheat and the big yellow corn. There's tanbark
and hoop poles, wet goods, merchandise, Clay, coal, brick
and lumber, cordwood, stone, and ice. Yes, all that was
needed, we boated, dear Pal, Best time of our
lives we had on the canal. I will not be a
rover, for I love my boat, I am happy,
contented, yet work, dream and float. My mules are
not hungry; they're lively and gay. The plank is
pulled in; we are off on our way. |
This Nye song
describes the route of the We're going south
tomorrow, Dear, But oh, what times
and fun, We'll have en
route to 'Tis a grand and
glorious run. In Yes, for a day
or two, She's a romping
gay old town, For there's
much that's strange and new. But we'll run along together, Dear, how happy we
will be, On our little There's many
bright historic spots, That often give
you thrills, But you'll wonder
all along, Shipyards,
warehouses, mills. At Bolivar's
historic fame, Will stir your
very soul. Zoar, Zoar loves
the canal, Women, children
did much work; Baskets, buckets,
anything, Yes, they helped
remove the dirt. At Canal Also in Lock Seventeen
and Old Blue Hole, You will ne'er
forget these views. Newcomerstown,
Coshocton, Past Roscoe,
interesting, true, You will often
speak of them, And the world will
seem like new. At Coalport
Dresden and Reservoir, Sights and
things you'll ne'er forget, And the scenery
ever new. At Baltimore and
Basil, Carroll,
Lockville, so gay, Canal Oh, of them
there's much to say. Lockbourne's
big distillery, Circleville, so
gay and cute, You will love
to see again. There's Oh, yes, a real
canal town; 'Tis no joke we
always stop, Though we're
headed up or down. In Crooked
Creek at Waverly, Also her lazy
slip, At the big
distillery, Most turtles of
the trip. At Sunfish Creek,
the largest spring, In all the This You'll praise and
oft relate. The largest
vine that's in the world, Is found near
in these parts. A sycamore at
Lucasville, So large, it
jars the heart. Katydids and
locusts, crickets, Birds, oh, all
serenade, From Then who should be
afraid? So we'll enjoy
it all along, And what things
you will behold! The canal is so
entrancing, 'Tis a life
that ne'er grows old. |
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This map shows the
route of the Most of the songs
on this recording have their origins along the 308 miles of this silver
ribbon. It was constructed between 1825 and 1832, reached its height by 1850,
and declined until its close in 1913. A trip along its entire length in the
1830s took 4 days, much faster than road travel in those days. Feeder canals
connected other areas with the Ohio and Erie Canal including the one into
Columbus shown on this map and the Sandy and Beaver Canal to the Ohio River
(running near Bill’s home in Columbiana County which included Lusk’s Lock
shown on the front cover and the partially restored lock in Beaver Creek
State Park shown in some other pictures). The 363 mile
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It’s Pleasant
to Run in Full Moon This Pearl Nye
song uses the music from “My Sweetheart’s the Man in the Moon” in a melody
that most folks will recognize. It’s pleasant to
run in full moon; When it happens to
be month of June; All’s balmy and
light, lazy waters so bright, And the boat sets
as though she would spoon. |
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Canal Boat
Wedding This is a song by
Pearl Nye that describes another aspect of life on the canal -- love and
marriage. As with many activities on the canal, the wedding is accompanied by
music and dance. In a deck boat
white and cozy Down the level a
few miles, There lives a girl
that I dearly love, With beautiful
face and smile. Her cheeks are
like the red, red rose, And her eyes are a
lovely brown, Her hair is long
and beautiful, I'll meet her when
the sun goes down. And, oh, how I love, pretty little Mary my canal
boat fairy, Oh! my turtle dove, I'll meet her when the sun goes
down. Her father is a
jolly chap And is glad to
see me come. He's a skipper of
the old line type, And of course
I'm right at home. We have
refreshments, eat a bite, And then we're
off for a spell; The flowers on
the old towpath, Whose beauty we
can never tell. The canalers smile
and greet us, And of course we
do the same, For they see and
know this long time, There's going to
be a change. When Monday comes
we'll take a walk Until the parson
we have found, Then to our boat
we'll ride or float And be married
when the sun goes down. Then dancing in
the "stern midship", Oh, come all
and join the fun. There will be
song and music, feasting, yes, Enough for
everyone. For a gay time
we do expect, Yes, the
canalers all from town, To see the
"stern" and "bowline" "tied", We'll be
married when the sun goes down. |
The This song and the
next are about events on the We were forty
miles from Forget it I never
shall. What a terrible
storm we had one night On the Oh, the E-ri-e was a-rising, and the gin was a
getting low, And I scarcely think we're gonna get a little
drink, Till we get to We were loaded
down with barley, We were chock
full up with rye, And the captain
he looked down on me With his
gol-darn wicked eye. Well the captain,
he came on the deck With a spyglass in
his hand, And the fog it was
so 'tarnal thick That he could not
spy the land. We were two
days out from The vessel
struck a shoal, And we like to
all been foundered on A chunk o' We hollered to the
captain On the towpath
treadin' dirt, He jumped on board
and stopped the leak With his old red
flannel shirt. The cook she was
a grand old gal, She wore a
ragged dress, We hoisted her
upon the pole As a signal of
distress. The wind began to
whistle, And the waves
began to roll, And we had to reef
our royals On that raging old
canal. When we got to The off-mule he
was dead, And the nigh
mule got blind staggers, And we cracked
him on the head. The captain he got
married, The cook she went
to jail, And I'm the only
son of a gun That's left to
tell the tale. |
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The This is another traditional
song about work on the I've got a mule
and her name is Sal, Fifteen miles on
the She's a good old
worker and a good old pal, Fifteen miles on
the We've hauled some
barges in our day, Filled with
lumber, coal and hay, And every inch of
the way we know, From Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, for we're coming to a town! And you'll always know your neighbor, You'll always know your pal, If you've ever navigated on the We'd better
look around for a job, old gal, Fifteen years
on the You bet your
life I wouldn't part with Sal, Fifteen years
on the Giddap there
gal, we've passed that lock, We'll make One more trip
and then we'll go, Right back home
to Buffalo-oh! I don't want to
call when I want my Sal, Fifteen years on
the She trots from her
stall like a good old gal, Fifteen miles on
the 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-oh! |
In the Good
Old Summertime Pearl Nye wrote
many short, one verse, songs about the canal using popular melodies such as
"In the Good Old Summertime." On the towpath it
is fine, in the good old summertime. Running wild among
the flowers, keeping up the line. Our work is play,
the line-deck high, barefoot in sun tan we shine. Oh, tell me
where's a better place, In the good old summertime. |
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Little Sally
Waters “Little Sally
Walker" is a children's game song about love and marriage. Pearl Nye places
the lovers on the canal with a canal boat as their palace. Little Sally
Waters was a fine young gal, She met, fell in
love with the skipper on the canal. All things went
well till one day her father said, "I'd rather
see you buried than to this canaler wed." She asked for
the reason why he turned so cold, Toward her true
lover, so manly, kind and bold. "That life
is too romantic and for you I fear, That you will
soon regret it if you seek his love to share." Little Sally Waters sitting in the sun, Weeping, crying, for her skipper to come. Rise, Sally, rise, wipe your eyes now with your
frock, Your little cappy's billed for here and at this
port will dock. Oh, when he
arrived, she quickly told him all, Her father would
ask him on her no more to call. She said, "If
you love me, I will go with you, And prove to all
that we can live a life most noble, too." He quickly
consented and to the parson went, They married,
so happy, a pleasant life well spent. Like two little
birds, they sing and float along, And Sally often
chuckles while they sing this little song. Yes, they are so
happy in the world their own, A canal boat, the
palace, master's home, sweet home. All things are
this to the life of golden dreams, And next there to
that heavenly land of beautiful scenes. Whatever may
come, their hearts are full of joy, There's flowers
about them no matter where they go. They live for
each other, one, and drift along, And how they
smile and chuckle when they sing this little song. |
The Clever
Skipper This is a humorous
song that Nye learned from his parents. There was a clever
skipper, in Who had a lovely
woman, and a tailor she loved well. She was always
pert to meet him – so listen what I say. She was walking up
Who but the tailor
did she chance for to meet? Tum a rally tally
dally! Tum a rally tally day! They wined,
dined, and danced. It was late by the clock, When up stepped
the captain and loudly did he knock, Tum a rally
tally dally, Tum a rally tally day. They were
surprised, Tailor said, so quiet, meek, "Now my
lovely woman, oh, where shall I creep?" Tum a rally
tally dally! Tum a rally tally day! "In yonder
cupboard my husband has a chest, Yes, in that
cupboard, a cover, you may hide," Tum... They hurried, she
locked him up, coat, boots, and hat, She locked him up
with the balance of his clothes, Tum... So she ran
downstairs and opened the door, There stood the
skipper with a couple others more, Tum... She kindly
saluted and gave to him a kiss, Says he,
"My lovely woman, what do you mean by this?" Tum... "I didn't
come to rob you or break you of your rest, I am going on
south and came for my chest," Tum... These two canalers
– jolly, brave, and strong, They picked up the
chest and wagged it along, Tum... They hadn't got
more than the middle of the town, Till the weight
of the tailor made the sweat trickle down, Tum... They set the
chest down to take a moment's rest; Says one to the
other, "What the devil's in the chest?" Tum... But neither of the
two, the chest could undo, Till up stepped
the skipper with the balance of the crew, Tum... He unlocked the
chest in the presence of them all, And there lay the
tailor like a hog in a stall, Tum... "Now I have
got you, 'twill be like on the sea, Not leave you
here making trouble for me," Tum... They took him
on board for This is the
last of the tailor we do hear, Tum... |
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My This Nye song is
to the tune "Irish Washerwoman."
This song deals with the mule, upon which the canalers depended for
transportation. This world, it is
great, you may get what you want, There is trouble
and fun, all depends on your jaunt, But I love the
latter with laughter and song, And if you don't
like it, move peacefully on. I have an old
friend, and we get along fine, He works on the
towpath, helps keep up the line, Oh, how he would
bray if he could hoist his sail, But that he'll not
do for he can't raise his tail. He was in the army,
and there you obey, But he was like
others, got smart by the day, He sure would
act stubborn, would balk, kick, and reel, And want to
kick you at most every meal. So all became
tired at last of his pranks, For when he
felt like it, would run, break the ranks, He'd bray like
a wild ass on mountain, in vale, 'Til a surgeon
got wise and cut a nerve in his tail. Oh, when he's off
duty, you bet he can run, He's proud of his
record, Old Son-of-a-Gun, Has good traits
abundant, a friendly old guy, But he's an old
rounder, keep open your eyes. Can squeal,
winnow, prance, kick the bucket, you know, For grain he is
there, naught about him is slow, What things he
would do, you could cry, laugh, or wail, But he says,
"I am helpless, I can't raise my tail." Whatever his
failures, I like the old guy, He is a fun
maker, my heart fills with joy, He's wise as a
serpent, I'm sure he's no dove, Sometimes when
I laugh, he would send me above. If he hears
firecrackers or gunshot – look out, A gay powder
lover and may wheel about, He often gets
mad, and on me would he sail, For I snicker
and smile when he can't raise his tail. He has a sharp eye
and at me will he stare, I answered,
"Lookout" – I will not take a dare, It is then that he
acts as though I were to blame, For all of his
troubles, whatever the name. Oft is playful and
pleasant, so pert, like a calf, He stares like a
monkey and then I will laugh, Oh, yes we are
cronies till I hee-haw hail, And does he get
mad when he can't raise his tail. |
The Mules Ran
Off This is an amusing
tale about ornery mules, particularly one named Old Fear. Nye used the melody
from "Oh! Susanna" by Stephen Foster. The mules ran off
and I fell down, I really thought
I'd croak. A bullfrog yelled,
"Look out there, boy, I'll jump right
down your throat." That night was a hummer, Old Fear was there in
style; But I looked beyond his capers, for I love my old
canal. I sure felt
funny, yes, I did; 'Twas muddy,
all was wet. And everything
that had a voice, I seem to hear
them yet. The mules I found
in waiting, While our craft
did gently float; The rain soon came
in torrents, And we jumped into
the boat. The turtles,
fish would splash about, Muskrats, mink
dive and swim. And every step
I took that night, Old Fear would
smile and grin. Next morning, all
was bright and clear, The birds would
smile in song. Yes, endless
serenading, In turn, the whole
day long. |
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Last Trip in
the Fall This is a song about canalers during the winter
season when the boats were no longer running. Nye used the traditional melody
titled "Between Me and the Wall." At Nick Hert's
mine near Where we put on
eighty tons, Seemed everything
was right about, No matter where
we'd turn. But we kept on a
moving, For we must heed
duty's call, And landed safe in
Where we laid up
for the fall. Window-glass
ice was everywhere, We handled
lines with gloves. They soon were
wet, our hands so cold, And that nobody
loves. But soon we
were all winter-set, Oh, yes, we're
feeling fine. And eating nuts
while cracking jokes Of things along
the line. That winter was
the limit, Oh, yes, for us
Big Ditch boys. Had everything at
our command That city folk
enjoy. No matter how the
cards would run My heart would
sing and smile. I learned these
things, yes years ago, Upon the old
canal. The
featherbedders were unique, The sideliners
just the same. They worked and
played just as they chose, 'Twas their
part in the game. But on our boat
we loved to go; We moved just
for the fun, While Missus Long
Green Silver Dollar We kept on the
run! But who in God's
creation Can enumerate this
life. 'Tis so unique and
lovely Where the heart is
free from strife. I'm died in wool a
Canaler, I Don't care what be
the sky. I'll stay upon the
Great Big Ditch Until the day I
die. |
That Old
Towpath The melody of this
song is "The Old Oaken Bucket" by George Kiallmark. The lyrics by
Pearl Nye describe the beauty of nature along the canal. This song, like many
of his others, is the voice of a man in love with his work. Most dear to my
heart are the scenes of the towpath, No mortal its
beauty can ever describe. Such blending of
music and song, oh, so glorious, As long on the
boat or the mules I would ride. It was so majestic
and ne'er had an equal; My soul in its rapture
would burst out in song. While nature would
smile everything full of laughter, A wonderful
picture, as we'd glide along. That beautiful towpath, such splendor, so glorious; With dear Mother Nature I'd ramble along. Upon that old towpath,
oh, I was so happy; Most free of
all mortals, the world ever knew. I'd love to go
back and remain there forever; 'Twas so
unexcelling, most beautiful, true. The air was so
freighted with fragrance from flowers; The moss, honey
locust, clover, new-mown hay. And, oh,
nature's song, in what glee, she would greet us, No picture so
grand as she would there display. Upon that old
towpath, 'twas heaven, such glory, As barefoot I'd
revel in fun, laughter, song. The snakes would
uncoil, make a streak for the water; The frogs jump and
"chug," turtles waddle along. Those wonderful
trees, bowing, waving so graceful, The elms and
willow, the sycamore, pines. The elders and
alders, yes, all of their kindred; And even our timid
friend, Mrs. Grape Vine. The hills,
valleys, creeks, rivers, yes, all were with them, They'd smile,
sing, and dance, 'twas an excellent scene. I'd give all
the world, yes, and whate'er my future, If I could live
over, this wonderful dream. No place in
creation can ever approach it; The Lord set
His seal on it, beautiful, grand. 'Twas God, man,
and nature all working together, A handiwork,
marvelous, water and land. |
Whenever the lyrics on the recording are not the same as the lyrics in this booklet, the ones in the booklet are more likely to match the original source. Singers sometimes don’t remember every lyric exactly as written or take some poetic license to make the song their own.
All engineering, mixing, mastering, and design was done by Bill and Linda
in our home studios.
Our appreciation is extended to Marge Diamond who worked with us to
develop our arrangements as we played these songs in practice and on stage; to
Mary Lautzenheiser for guiding us through and helping us do the final details
of graphic design; to Cynthia Calise, Dr. Ann Waters, Jeannette McCleery, and
Randy Davis for critical listening and critiques for our final mix; to Marcy
Tudor for marketing strategies, and to
Bill would like to dedicate this recording to the memory of his mother,
Wilma Schilling. Although she was not a great fan of folk-style music, she was
generous in her support of the music and in her hospitality to Linda and Marge
during this project.
Bill and Linda are available for bookings together, individually, with the Banks of the Ohio Dulcimer Club, with Dulci-More: Folk & Traditional Musicians, or with others for concerts, festivals, workshops, or other events using the material from this recording or other traditional and contemporary material. Contact:
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Bill Schilling |
Linda Sigismondi |
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