Music in the public school

I moved to Columbus, Ohio in the latter part of the 5th grade and attended North Linden Elementary School. It was a difficult step because the move happened in April and school would be out soon. My new teacher was Mrs. Creasap. She had curly black hair and spoke with a loud high-pitch voice. I approached my first day timidly as a boy from the country. She directed me to stand up and introduce myself.

"My name is Jim George, and I am from Mt. Gilead," I complied.

"Oh, the boy with two first names," Mrs. Creasap nailed me. 

Of course, the class laughed, and I didn't appreciate being the object of a joke.

My new best friend was Mike McCandless, who was in the grade behind me because Mrs. Creasap had failed him. She observed our friendship and that shaped her opinion of me. I arrived as a good student, and well ahead of this class in my studies, according to her, however, she suspected that my behavior might be bad.

There was something redeeming about Mrs. Creasap, and that was she played the piano and led the class in singing music to her accompaniment. That was a bonus. Now, what was her favorite song? It was The Erie Canal.

The song was by Thomas S. Allen and was introduced in 1905.

The Erie Canal Song Lyrics

I've got an old mule and her name is Sal

Fifteen years on the Erie Canal

She's a good old worker and a good old pal

Fifteen years on the Erie Canal

We've hauled some barges in our day

Filled with lumber, coal, and hay

And every inch of the way we know

From Albany to Buffalo

Chorus:

Low bridge, everybody down

Low bridge for we're coming to a town

And you'll always know your neighbor

And you'll always know your pal

If you've ever navigated on the Erie Canal

We'd better look 'round for a job old gal

Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

'Cause you bet your life I'd never part with Sal

Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

Git up there mule, here comes a lock

We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock

One more trip and back we'll go

Right back home to Buffalo

Chorus

Oh, where would I be if I lost my pal?

Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

Oh, I'd like to see a mule as good as Sal

Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

A friend of mine once got her sore

Now he's got a busted jaw,

'Cause she let fly with her iron toe,

And kicked him in to Buffalo.

Chorus

Don't have to call when I want my Sal

Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

She trots from her stall like a good old gal

Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

I eat my meals with Sal each day

I eat beef and she eats hay

And she ain't so slow if you want to know

She put the "Buff" in Buffalo

Chorus

Why was this such an appropriate song for the 5th Grade class. Well, she was teaching Ohio History, and this song was filled with substance for which she devoted time to analyze. She pounded the keyboard and we memorized the words as this happened as a ritual. I will never forget it. The experience opened the possibility that school could be redeeming so long as there was music.

The Erie Canal

North Linden Elementary School