Lyr Add: I'm Afloat I'm Afloat (on the Erie Canal)

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M AFLOAT (ON THE ERIE CANAL)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 08:05 PM

Lyr. Add: I'M AFLOAT
Music, Henry Russell, Lyrics, Eliza Cook, 1842

1
I'm afloat! I'm afloat! On the Erie Canal.
It's wave is my home and my scow beats them all.
Off! Up, with your hats!
Give three cheers, now three more.
I'm afloat! I'm afloat! After four months on shore.
The prim, painted packets right past us may souse.
They may rub. They may bump, but they can't stave our bows.
With darkness around us, and bridges full low,
O'er the raging canal right onward we go.
Come, boy. Whip the mare. Keep her hear to the wind,
And I'll warrant we'll soon leave the snails all behind.
Up! Up! with your caps. Now give cheers three times three.
I'm afloat! I'm afloat! The canaller is free.
I'm afloat! I'm afloat! And the cook's getting tea.

2
The night is pitch dark and the rain has let loose,
Who's afeerd while our scow swims like a goose.
What to her is the swash of Guv'nor Clinton's Big Ditch?
She has braved it six years under Captain Saul Fitch.
I fear not the breakers, I heed not the wave,
I've the towpath to steer by and a boathook to save.
And ne'er as a lubberly landman I'll quail,
When the Captain gives orders to take in all sail.
Ho! on deck here, my boy! Stand by with your poles.
There's a raft right ahead, Heaven save our poor souls.
Hard down with your helm! Make loose that line, fast!
Hurra, boys! Hurra, boys. The crisis is past.

I'm Afloat
With musical score and chords.

"The words to this song appeared in an 1842 Utica, New York newspaper. The composer was listed as Eliza Muggins, late cook. In fact, the tune is by Henry Russell and the original lyrics to I'm Afloat were by Eliza Cook."

Crossroads, University of Virginia. The website has "The Raging" Canal" and a few other songs, but links are down.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Afloat ! I'm Afloat!
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 09:00 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Afloat ! I'm Afloat!
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 09:00 PM

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M AFLOAT! I'M AFLOAT! (Cook/Russell)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 09:38 PM

(Damn! Hitting the space bar posts whatever is there! )

I'M AFLOAT! I'M AFLOAT!
Words by Eliza Cook, Music by Henry Russell, 1843

1
I'm afloat! I'm afloat! on the fierce rolling tide,
The ocean's my home and my bark is my bride;
Up, up with my flag, let it wave o'er the sea,
I'm afloat, I'm afloat, and the Rover is free.
I fear not the monarch, I heed not the law;
I've a compass to steer by- a daggar to draw;
And ne'er as a coward or slave will I kneel,
While my guns carry shot, or my belt bears a steel.
2
Quick! Quick! trim her sail, let the sheet kiss the wind,
And I warrant we'll soon leave the sea-gulls behind.
Up, up with my flag, let it wave o'er the sea,
I'm afloat, I'm afloat, and the Rover is free!
I'm afloat, I'm afloat, and the Rover is free!
The night gathers o'er us, the thunder is heard;
What matter? our vessel skims on like a bird!
What to her is the dash of the storm-ridden main?
She has braved it before, and will brave it again:
The fire-gleaming flashes around us may fall-
They may strike, they may cleave, but they cannot appal.
3
With lightning above us, and darkness below,
Through the wild waste of waters right onward we go.
Hurra! my brave comrades, ye may drink, ye may sleep,
The storm-fiend is hushed, we're alone on the deep,
Our flag of defiance still waves o'er the sea,
I'm afloat, I'm afloat, and the Rover is free.

Three different song sheets at American Memory; Andrews NY, Harris Philadelphia, and another without printer's name.
The Levy Collection has the sheet music, "I'm Afloat, I'm Afloat," dated 1843, pub. Geo. P. Reed, Boston; also sheet music without author data.
http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/levy-cgi/display.cgi?id=181.139.000;pages=7;range=0-6

The version about the Erie scow, posted previously, is a parody, and the credits given to Cook and Russell for it by the Crossroads-U. Virginia website are probably wrong.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'm Afloat (on the Erie Canal)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 09:44 PM

Levy has other copies of the sheet music, published 1841, which seems to be the earliest date. Music by John M. White!