Absolutely agree with all the above but so far no one has mention what the canal people did sing. According to my information they mostly sang music hall songs. The tradition of canal users entertainment still goes on. At Foxton incline plane museum it's the first Sunday evening of every month and when requested by the landlord of Foxton's Bridge 61 musician and singers meet there for a bit of a do. Some of the faster tunes have been known to prompt spontanious step dancing.