Greetings all,

I am trying to locate songs written about the Morris Canal in New Jersey. I am interested in finding songs that speak of the building of the canal as well as life thereon during the operational years.

Thus far I have turned up the following leads:

"Rusty Old Canaler"
I've turned up only one verse or perhaps it is the refrain. I am interested in finding the full lyric text. This may have been a four line ditty sung by a boatman as he was passing a slower boat. There's a reference to this effect in James Lee's book entitled "Tales the Boatman Told"

"Going Down to Cooper's"
I believe I have the full lyric text. I am interested in turning up the air to which it was sung.

There is a third song I've turned up but I have only turned up what seems to be the first verse or again the refrain and I've not found any reference that this was a ditty. The following is the limited text I've thus far discovered:

"Old Bill Miller ridin' on the tiller,
Steering round the Bowertown Bend.
Old Davy Ross with a ten dollar boss
Comin' up the Pompton Plane"

Any and all help you can and may provide is greatly appreciated.

All the best!

Peace,
Ed
--
Peace, a brilliant aspiration!

Traditional and Contemporary Irish Music

www.EdSaultz.com
(201) 424-6141