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.
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)
At the house
Mae:
Can you carry this, sweep that, fix this light?
Earl:
Sure - tote that barge, lift that bale!
- A reference to endless labor (idiom)
After a long day
Mae:
Still workin’?
Earl:
Yep - feels like I’m just toting barges and lifting bales.
variations: quit bossin’
slave driver
hard labor
yes, boss man
do this, do that
tote that barge
lift that bale
★ 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
Said plain: "tote that barge, lift that bale." Usually with a playful or exaggerated tone.
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, September 13). 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, 13 Sept. 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. September 13, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/tote-that-barge-lift-that-bale.
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When I was growin' up, Mom would always say, 'tote that barge, lift that bale' when somebody'd be barkin' orders.