Far from being a sailing song, the popular song "Low Bridge, Everybody Down" was written in 1905 by Thomas S. Allen after Erie Canal barge traffic was converted from mule power to engine power, raising the speed of traffic. Also known as "Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal", "Erie Canal Song" and "Mule Named Sal", the song memorializes the years from 1825 to 1880 when the mule barges made boomtowns out of Utica, Rome, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. The version using the word "miles" refers to the average distance a mule would tow a barge before resting or being relieved by another mule. Vernon Dalhart made an early reording of it. It was later recorded by Glenn Yarborough, Pete Seeger, the Weavers, The Kingston Trio, The Hardtackers and The Sons of the Pioneers. This is not same as the traditional "The E-ri-ee Canal" song which satirically compares bargemen with sailors. I learned this song from the Kingston Trio recording.