The Band of Brothers: MP3s/Lyrics

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)
• MP3 play whole song, lo-fi (modem)

Note from Michael: I wrote this song in 1983 after seeing a mural of Sam Patch making his final leap in a restaurant near the High Falls in Rochester, NY. Many years later, I brought the song to The Band of Brothers - and it just didn't click with them. I rearranged the song in a minor key, and that didn't work either. Alan Fox suggested we use both arrangements - one for the verses and the other for the chorus. Genius!! Historical note: Sam was one of the few daredevils to jump over Niagara Falls without a barrel and survive. He then set his sights on the High Falls of the Genesee River in Rochester. On November 13, 1829 (yep, it was a Friday the 13th) Sam took his jump - and perished in the attempt.

Sam Patch, Sam Patch - jumped over the Falls with a bear and a hat

The hat went under and so did Sam, but the bear went swimming away, hey! The bear went swimming away

So gather 'round children, gather 'round folks - I've got a tale to tell and it ain't no joke

The moral of the tale will be plain to see: don't jump over the Falls of the Genesee

The Mighty Genesee.

(Chorus)

Old Sam Patch was regular clown, who thought he was the best jumpin' man around.

He didn't jump up - he only jumped down. And that's why we're singing this song - oh!

That's why we're singing this song.

(Chorus)

I don't know where Sam got the bear, but he made his living from jumpin' in the air

With not much of nothin' underneath, but a pool of water to put his feet

His dirty little feet.

(Chorus)

Now, when Sam Patch leapt over the brink, that fateful Friday the 13th.

The crowd went hush - held its breath - the bear went swimmin' away, hey!

Down Ontario way.

(Chorus)

Sam always claimed that "some things can, be done as well as others can".

He calculated jumps scientifically - but not in the case of the Genesee

The Mighty Genesee!

(Chorus)