Dear Dave P,

Thanks for your interest. Here is my good friend Dusty Miller's English version of ERIE CANAL:-

GRAND TRUNK CANAL
(Dusty Miller)

I've got a mule and her name is Sal
15 miles on the Grand Trunk Canal
She's a good worker and a good old pal (15 miles etc)
We've hauled some barges on our day
Filled with pottery, coal and clay
And we know every inch of the way
From Preston Brook to Shardlow

Low bridge, get your head down
Low bridge we're going through a town
You'll always know a boatman, he'll always be your pal
If you've ever navigated on the Grand Trunk Canal

We'd better look around for a job old pal (15 miles etc)
You bet your life I'd never part with Sal (15 miles etc)
Get up there mule, here comes a lock
We'll make Stoke about six O'clock
One more trip and back we'll go
Right back home to Shardlow

Where would I be if I lost my pal (15 miles etc)
I'd like to see a mule as good as Sal (15 miles etc)
A friend of mine once got her sore
Now he's got a broken jaw
Cause she let fly with her iron toe
And kicked him back to Shardlow

You'll soon hear them sing about my pal (15 miles etc)
It's a darn fine ditty 'bout my old friend Sal (15 miles etc)
DPN+1 will play it soon
Damn good words and a damn good tune
You'll hear it sung before you go
From Preston Brook to Shardlow

(modified words Dusty Miller, c2006)



Not many changes, as you can see. Dusty kept it simple, so our band
(DPN+1, as mentioned in last verse) could learn it quickly for a canal festival we were playing at).
It scans OK (vocally), once you've sung it once. Dusty was quite happy with the word "mule" (he is a canal artist, historian, and activist, as well as having been on the cut, on and off, for over 40 years)

We would love to hear any of your ideas, Dave. If we nick them, we will give them due credit.

                   Cheers, Dave Illingworth (DPN+1)