Grade 2 Read-Aloud

Name

Westward Expansion: Supplemental Guide 255

3B-1

Melody and Lyrics by Th omas S. Allen

The Erie Canal
This popular folksong was written in 1905 by the “Tin-Pan Alley” songwriter Thomas Allen. He originally
titled it “Low Bridge, Everybody Down” because there was already a song called “E-r-i-e Canal.” His
song, however, was written to honor ealier days of the canal when barges were pulled by faithful mules
instead of tugboats. The mule-drivers would holler out “low bridge!” so riders wouldn’t hit their heads.