Bill Schilling and Linda
Sigismondi
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
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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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Bill Schilling |
Linda Sigismondi |
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330-332-4420 |
740-446-9244 |
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
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to have the convenience of ordering by credit card, and we do not have our own
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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
Bill Schilling has
been singing and playing various folk instruments for over 30 years. He has
performed for audiences of all ages in many settings from coast to coast. His
high-energy performances may include songs, slide programs, and/or stories. He
regularly works with various singing and instrumental partners in different
groups. Since Bill believes that his music should be inclusive, he is involved
in many organizations which share and promote music including Dulci-More: Folk
& Traditional Musicians (Bill is the founder and leader); the annual
Dulci-More Festival (Bill is the director); the Canton Folk Song Society (Bill
is one of the original members); of Folknet (Bill is a charter Executive
Committee Member & Vice-President); and others. Bill has worked as the Folk
Service Leader at the First United Methodist Church of Warren and with other
churches. He has books available. Contact Bill at bill@billschilling.org or check his
web page at www.billschilling.org
for more information.
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
Bill Schilling
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 Rod Thompson and Carmen Arsuffi for
photo sessions.
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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330-332-4420 |
740-446-9244 |
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Schilling by e-mail.
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