Backside of Albany is Lake Champlain And she's two thirds full of water..

The chorus begins:

On Lake Champlain Uncle Sam set his boats With Captain MacDonough to guide em...

Usually the song is in such heavy dialect that it is unsingable--but that's another problem. Thanks

The songsheet can be found in the Lester D. Levy Collecton of Sheet Music.

Search for Lester. S. Levy and you should find it.

It was written by Michael Hawkins and sung by Hill and Brower. It has 4 verses. The words are difficult to decipher, but here is a little of what I could make out.

Verse 1

Backside of Albany dar Lake Champlain
One leetle pon half full of water

Verse 2
General ........wid de British Army
...............................
Come to Plattsburg,

the remainder is too difficult for these old eyes to read. hope you have better luck.

Verse 1

Backside of Albany dar Lake Champlain One leetle pon half full of water Plattsburg dere too, close upon de main
Town small he grow bigger de here arter
On Lake Champlain uncle Sam set de boat
And Massa Macdonough he sail dem.
WhileGeneral Mac.......make Plattsburg his home
With the army whos courage neer fail em

Elizabeth Day September 1814
Gobner P.....and de British Army
.........................
Come to Plattsburg to party certin
.And de boats came too ?
Arter Uncle Sam ....
Massa Macdonough look sharp out de winder
Den General Mac.........
...........Br>Catch fire too, jus like tinder

I'm sorry this is as far as I can go with this.

Type "Backside" in the first one and click "Title" in the tag box. Then type "Albany" in the second. Hit search and you should be successful. If you need more info ,post a response here and I am sure someone will help.

Good luck.

(Michael Hawkins, 1837)

Back side Albany dar Lake Shamplain,
One leetle Pon half full a water,
Platsburg dar too close upon de main,
Town small he grow bigger doe here arter,
On Lake Shamplain
Uncle Sam set he boat,
And Massa Macdonough he sail em,
While Gen'ral Maccomb,
Make Plattburgh he home,
Wid he army whose courage nebber fail 'em.

Elebenth day September 1814,
Gub'ner Probose wid he british army,
Dress 'imself up make all tings clean,
Cum to Plattburg tea party cortin;
An he boat cum too,
Arter Uncle Sam boat,
Massa Donough look sharp out de winder,
Den Gen'ral Maccomb,
Ah, he alway home,
Catch fire too jiss like tinder.

Bow wow wow den de cannon gin't roar,
In Plattsburg an all bout dat quarter,
Gub'ner Probose try he han pon de shore,
Wile he boat try he luck pon de water;
But Massa Macdonough,
Kick de boat in de head,
Broke he heart, broke he shin, stove(?) he caf in;
An Gen'ral Maccomb,
Start ole Probose home,
Tort me soul den I muss laffin.

Probose scart so he lef all behine,
Powder, ball, cannon, tea pot an kittle,
Sum say he catch he cold, wat perish in he mind,
Bloyg'd rat(?) so much raw an cold vittle;
Uncle Sam berry sorry,
Too be sure fur he pain,
Wish he muss imself up well an arty;
For Gen'ral Maccomb,
An Massa Donough, home,
Wen he notion for nudder tea party.

Best I can do, even with Photoshop.  The original image at Levy is rather poor.

Malcolm

Here's the Levy website.

Some say he catch a col', trouble in he min' 'cause he eat so much col' and raw victual'.

I think what might be in your version is simply B'cause he ... .

Marc Bernier

I don't Know