Tote That Barge, Lift That Bale

Q: Where does “tote that barge, lift that bale” come from?

The 1927 musical Show Boat, in the song “Ol’ Man River.”

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "tote that barge, lift that bale" is a sarcastic phrase used when someone is barking orders. Though the line came from the 1927 musical Show Boat, it stuck in family talk as a joking way to mock bossiness or endless chores.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern #FarmTalk #MoneyWorkandChores

Hillbilly Dude Says...

When I was growin' up, Mom would always say, 'tote that barge, lift that bale' when somebody'd be barkin' orders.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

When I was growin' up, Mom would always say, 'tote that barge, lift that bale' when somebody'd be barkin' orders.

Pronunciation

[TOHT that barj, lift that bayl]

Meaning & Usage

- A sarcastic remark about giving orders (idiom, cultural use)

Mae:

Can you carry this, sweep that, fix this light?

Earl:

Sure - tote that barge, lift that bale!

- A reference to endless labor (idiom)

Mae:

Still workin’?

Earl:

Yep - feels like I’m just toting barges and lifting bales.

★ The phrase isn’t really about barges or bales anymore - it’s a handy comeback when someone’s piling on tasks. ★

Origin and Etymology

The line comes from the song "Ol’ Man River" in the 1927 musical Show Boat by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. Over time, it filtered into Southern/Appalachian speech as a humorous jab at bossiness, thanks in part to the familiar dialect word "tote."

Usage Notes

Still used in Southern families - especially by older generations - to poke fun when someone’s acting like a taskmaster. Outsiders may recognize it as a Broadway lyric, but in the hills it lived on as everyday sarcasm.

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Said plain: "tote that barge, lift that bale." Usually with a playful or exaggerated tone.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Where does "tote that barge, lift that bale" come from?

The 1927 musical Show Boat, in the song "Ol’ Man River."

Why do Southerners use it?

It stuck as a colorful way to tease somebody for giving orders.

Do people still say it today?

Less common among younger folks, but older generations still use it as a playful jab.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 4). Tote That Barge, Lift That Bale. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/tote-that-barge-lift-that-bale
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Tote That Barge, Lift That Bale." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/tote-that-barge-lift-that-bale.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Tote That Barge, Lift That Bale." HillbillySlang.com. November 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/tote-that-barge-lift-that-bale.

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