Erie Canal -

Advanced syncopation, repeated melodic rhythm patterns,
and a natural subdominant (Fi).

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Description

Grade: Fifth
Origin: USA – Thomas S. Allen, 1905
Key: F Major
Time: 4/4
Form: AB – verse/chorus
Rhythm: advanced: | ti ta/ ta ta | syncopation,
| ti ta/ ta/a | syncopation, | ti ta/ ta ti ti | syncopation, | ti ti ti ta/ ti ti | syncopation,
| ti ta/ ti ti ti ti | syncopation, | ti ti ti ta/ ta | syncopation, | ta ta ta ta | ta ti ti ta ta |
| ta ti ta/ ti ti | syncopation, | ta/a ta/a |
| ti/ ri ti/ ri ta/a | syncopation, | ta/a ta ti/ ri | syncopation, | ti/ ri ti/ ri ta ti/ ri | syncopation,
| ti/ ri ti/ ri ti ta ti | syncopation,
| ti/ ri ti/ ri ti/ ri ti/ ri | syncopation,
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa Fi So – natural/raised subdominant (Fi, B)
Intervals: intermediate: Mi\La (P5), La/Do (m3), Do\La (m3), La/Mi (P5), Mi/So8\Mi (m3), Mi\Do/Mi (M3), So/Mi (M6), So\Fi/So (m2), So\Fa (M2), Fa\Re (m3), Re/So8 (P4), Do/Fa (P4)
Musical Elements: notes: half, dotted quarter, quarter, dotted eighth, eighth, sixteenth; pickup beat, tied notes, syncopation, natural sign, raised subdominant (Fi), fermatas, verse/chorus, repeated melodic rhythm patterns
Key Words: USA history, USA geography: New York, Albany, NY, Hudson River, Buffalo, NY, Rome, NY, Erie Canal; mule power to engine power, recalling history of the Erie Canal, mule power, lumbar, coal, hay, barge hauling, inch, town, neighbor, pal, navigated, canal lock, trip, miles; contractions: we’ve (we have), you’ve (you have), I’ve (I have), I’d (I would); abbreviations: ev’ry (every), ev’rybody (everybody), ’bout (about)

“Erie Canal”
also know as
“Low Bridge”

		1.	I’ve got a mule 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’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, everybody down,* Low bridge, cause we’re coming to a town! You can always tell your neighbor Can always tell your pal, If you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal
		2.	We better get along on our way, 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:
			Low bridge, everybody down, Low bridge, cause we’re coming to a town! You can always tell your neighbor Can always tell your pal, If you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal

			*Low bridges would require boat and barge workers to get down out of the way.

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