The Old Welland Canal Song by Mary Shanahan’s Grandfather

Performed by Mary Shanahan. The song was originally written ca. 1890 by her grandfather, whose name is believed to be Michael Shanahan.

Listen to The Old Welland Canal Song sung by Mary Shanahan

Lock 2 of the Third Welland Canal (1872-81) under construction near Port Dalhousie: photography was still a
relatively new phenomenon and the navvies have assembled to make a record of their labours.

I’ll call your attention, I’ll sing you a song
I composed it myself, sure I’ll say nothing wrong.
It’s about the good times that me and my pal,
Had helping along the Old Welland Canal.

There was Fowler and Furlong and Montgomery,
They were the boys who could go on the spree.
When they were sober, they’d act like a man,
They were helpers along the Old Welland Canal.

Now a lot of the boys won’t work in the rain,
Fill up the jugs and we’ll drink up again.
Along the old banks there was winding galore,
From old Lock 11 to Lock 24.

Now if we’re not drinking, a sailin’ we’ll go,
With shovel and slice-bari a way down below.
We don’t make a tie-up in old Cornwall,
Sure a few little towns, we’ll reach old Montreal.

We’ll go to Blackbridgeii where the wine it does flow,
You’ll meet an old timer, you’re sure for to know.
For down in Blackbridge, every man meets a pal,
Who’s acquainted along the Old Welland Canal.

Now the job is soon over, the boys must resign,
No more stubbing boats or no more drinking wine.
These good days have gone, we shall see them no more,
That we had in the junglesiii at Lock 24.

[i] Slice-bar: a long-handled instrument with a blade at the end, for servicing a furnace.

[ii] Blackbridge: likely a reference to Black Bridge or Black’s Bridge in Montreal. This swing bridge was located at Lock 1 of the Lachine Canal.

[iii] Jungle: workers’ camp.

Sung by Mary Shanahan (1978), Chatelaine Villa, St. Catharines, Ont. Recorded by Gary Oblinsky for a Canada Works oral history project that was affiliated with the Brock University College of Education. St. Catharines Museum Collection 1978.38.32A

Published in Spirit of the Big Ditch: The Story of the Welland Canals in Pictures, Poems and Songs. Compiled, edited and annotated by Robert Ratcliffe Taylor. St. Catharines: The Historical Society of St. Catharines, 2024