This page is for the song performed by the WorkJuice Players. For the canal that runs through Brooklyn, New York, please see the entry for the Gowanus Canal on Wikipedia.
The Gowanus Canal Song is an adaptation of an old folk song that the WorkJuice Players have traditionally sung at the end of their performances at the Bell House in Brooklyn, New York because the venue is located in the neighborhood designated Gowanus.
The lyrics were originally written by Michael J. Shay in 1898[1] and the music was written by Paul & Storm and Jonathan Coulton. The song was uncovered for the Thrilling Adventure Hour by Paul F. Tompkins.[2]
The Gowanus Canal Song finally appeared on the podcast at the beginning of the Sparks Nevada, Marshal on Mars episode Still Alive.
Lyrics[]
- Away down town, where the atmosphere is hazy
- From the smoke of all the factories ascending to the sky
- The smells they are so horrid, it would almost set you crazy
- But I'm told in the neighborhood the people seldom die
- Way up on the Slope all of the people are complaining
- From the foul scented odors, oh their health is quickly waning
- And the smoke from the soft coal, their linen it is staining
- When the wind blows that way from Gowanus Canal
- When the wind blows east, when the wind blows west
- Or when it's from the north or south, you never get a rest
- In summer or in winter, in the spring or in the fall
- You breathe the same old odors from Gowanus Canal
- In fabled Darby's Patch, oh that muddy stream it rises
- And down to sweet Gowanus Bay it rushes with a roar
- Where barges and canal boats and schooners of all sizes
- Are unloaded by Tom Hanley, the jolly stevedore
- The girls you find down there are all so winsome and so pretty
- And the boys they are all so healthy; if not handsome then they are witty
- And all of you know Farrell, he's the mayor of Slob City
- He's thriving on the odors of Gowanus Canal
- When the wind blows east, when the wind blows west
- Or when it's from the north or south, you never get a rest
- In summer or in winter, in the spring or in the fall
- You breathe the same old odors from Gowanus Canal
- You breathe the same old odors from Gowanus Canal
Chords[]
Unofficial chords for this song can be found here
Video[]
Video of the cast performing the Gowanus Canal Song on October 11, 2013 may be seen here:
Thrilling Adventure Hour - Gowanus Canal finale - 2013-10-11
Thrilling Adventure Hour - Gowanus Canal finale - 2013-10-11[3]