THE RAGING CANAL (1844)

Come listen to my story, ye landsmen one and all,
I'll sing to you the dangers of that Raging Canal,
For I am one of many who expects a watery grave
For I've been at the mercy of the wind and of the wave.

When we left New York harbor it was the middle of the year,
We put our helm hard a port and for Buffalo did steer,
But when we gor in sight of Albany we met a heavy squall,
And we carried away our mizzen mast on that Raging Canal.

She minded her helm just like a thing of life,
The mate got on his knees uttering prayers for his wife,
We throwed the provisions over board it was blowing such a squall
And we were put on short allowance on that Raging Canal.

It seemed as if the Devil had work in hand that night,
For our oil it was all gone, and our lamps they gave no light,
The clouds began to gather and the rain began to fall,
And we had to reef our royals on that Raging Canal.

Loud roared the dreadful thunder, the rain in deluge showered,
The clouds were rent asunder, by lightnings vivid powers,
The bowsman gave a bellow, and the cook she gave a squall,
And the waves run mountain high on that Raging Canal.

The Captain came on deck and then began to rail,
He bellowed to the driver to take in more sail,
The driver knocked a horse down and then gave a bawl,
And we scudded under bare poles on that Raging Canal.

The Raging Canal, a Comic Song, Sung by P. Morris, composer, lyricist and arranger. Pub. Horace Waters, NYC, 1844. Another copy pub. C. G. Christman, NYC, 1844. Levy Collection, sheet music.

A song in the DT (Raging Canal) has the first verse, but the remaining five are different. It seems to be a rewrite with additional verses, or perhaps a combination of two versions.