Lyrics
One of the oldest published versions of the song runs in a series of unrhymed couplets:The same source attests another version in rhyme:
This song originated in oral tradition, and there are many versions of the lyrics. It begins with the refrain, "Michael, row the boat ashore,Michael haul the boat ashore. Then you'll hear the horn they blow. Then you'll hear the trumpet sound. Trumpet sound the world around. Trumpet sound for rich and poor. Trumpet sound the jubilee. Trumpet sound for you and me.
The River Jordan was where Jesus wasJordan's river is deep and wide, hallelujah. Meet my mother on the other side, hallelujah. Jordan's river is chilly and cold, hallelujah. Chills the body, but not the soul, hallelujah.
(repeated thus until end) A similar version was collected by Guy Carawan on an unspecified Sea Island.Row, Michael, Row, Hallelujah, Row, Michael, Row, Hallelujah, Row the boat ashore, Hallelujah, See how we (do) the row, Hallelujah, See how we the row, Hallelujah, Let me tries me chance, Hallelujah, Let me tries me chance, Hallelujah, Jump in the jolly boat, Hallelujah, Jump in the jolly boat, Hallelujah, Just row Michael, row, Hallelujah, Row the boat ashore, Hallelujah.
(repeated thus until end) Following the September 1961 murder of local:Let me try my chance, Hallelujah, Let me try my chance, Hallelujah, Sister Mary try her chance, Hallelujah, Sister Mary try her chance, Hallelujah, Just let me try my chance, Hallelujah, Just let me try my chance, Hallelujah, Michael row your boat ashore, Hallelujah, Michael row your boat ashore, Hallelujah, Sister Mary row your boat, Hallelujah, Sister Mary row your boat, Hallelujah, Everybody try a chance, Hallelujah Everybody try a chance, Hallelujah Oh just let me try my chance, Hallelujah Oh just let me try my chance, Hallelujah
: Michael row the boat ashore, Alleluia Christian brothers don't be slow, Alleluia Mississippi's next to go, Alleluia. Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an internati ...sang a rather different rendition on his 1962 album '' Midnight Special'' which combines elements drawn from Christianity, American slavery, andCivil Rights Movement The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement throughout the Unite .... The lyrics work their way through different parts of the Biblical narrative before concluding with the following verses:They nailed Jesus to the Cross, Hallelujah But his faith was never lost, Hallelujah So Christian soldiers off to war, Hallelujah Hold that line in Arkansas, Hallelujah Michael row the boat ashore, Hallelujah! Michael row the boat ashore, Hallelujah! Like Joshua at Jericho, Hallelujah Alabama's next to go, Hallelujah So Mississippi kneel and pray, Hallelujah Some more buses on the way, Hallelujah Michael row the boat ashore, Hallelujah! Michael row the boat ashore, Hallelujah!
Recordings
The version of "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" that became a folk standard was adapted in 1954 by Boston folksinger, songfinder and teacher Tony Saletan from the 1867 songbook ''Slave Songs of the United States ''Slave Songs of the United States'' was a collection of African American music consisting of 136 songs. Published in 1867, it was the first, and most influential, collection of spirituals to be published. The collectors of the songs were Nor ....'' As Saletan later explained, "I judged that the tune was very singable, added some harmony (a guitar accompaniment) and thought the one-word chorus would be an easy hit with ounger singers But a typical original verse consisted of one line repeated once, and I thought a rhyme would be more interesting to the teenagers at Shaker Village Work Camp, where I introduced it. So I adapted traditional African-American couplets in place of the original verses." Saletan taught it toPete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notabl ...later that year. Saletan, however, never recorded it. Seeger taught it tothe Weavers The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City originally consisting of Lee Hays, Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. Founded in 1948, the group sang traditional folk songs fr ..., who performed it at their Christmas Eve 1955 post-blacklist Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist (or black list) of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list. If someone is on a blacklist, ...reunion concert. A recording of that performance was released in 1957 on an album titled ''The Weavers on Tour''. In the same year, folksingerBob Gibson Robert Gibson (born Pack Robert Gibson; November 9, 1935October 2, 2020) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals (1959–1975). Nicknamed "Gibby" and "Hoot" ...included it on his ''Carnegie Concert'' album. Saletan shared a 1958 copyright in his adaptation with the members of the Weavers. The Weavers included an arrangement in ''The Weavers' Song Book'', published in 1960. Similarly, Seeger included it in his 1961 songbook, ''American Favorite Ballads,'' with an attribution to Saletan. An older, traditional version, titled "Row Michael Row," was later collected in theSea Islands The Sea Islands are a chain of tidal and barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean coast of the Southeastern United States. Numbering over 100, they are located between the mouths of the Santee and St. Johns Rivers along the coast of South Caroli ...by folkloristGuy Carawan Guy Hughes Carawan Jr. (July 28, 1927 – May 2, 2015) was an American folk musician and musicologist. He served as music director and song leader for the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee. Carawan is famo .... The American folk quintet the Highwaymen had a #1 hit in 1961 on both thepop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' ( ...andeasy listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, ...charts in the U.S. with their version, under the simpler title of "Michael", recorded and released in 1960. The Highwaymen's arrangement reached #1 for three weeks onTop 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...radio station WABC inNew York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...in August 1961, and for two weeks in September 1961 onBillboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...'sTop 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...nationally, remaining in the top ten into October. This recording also went to #1 in the United Kingdom. ''Billboard'' ranked the record as the No. 3 song of 1961. Out of respect for the original, unknown authors of the song, Saletan kept his royalties from the Highwaymen's hit in escrow "seeking some good use for it." The Highwaymen version that went to #1 on the Billboard charts had these lyrics:The recording begins and ends with one of the singers whistling the tuneMichael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah. Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. The River Jordan is chilly and cold, hallelujah. Chills the body but not the soul, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. The river is deep and the river is wide, hallelujah. Milk and honey on the other side, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ..., later accompanied by simple instruments, in a slow, ballad style. All the Highwaymen sang and harmonized on the Michael lines but individual singers soloed for each set of additional lyrics. This version differs from the Pete Seeger/Tony Saletan version by changing "meet my mother on the other side" to "milk and honey on the other side." "Milk and honey" is a phrase used in theBook of Exodus The Book of Exodus (from grc, Ἔξοδος, translit=Éxodos; he, שְׁמוֹת ''Šəmōṯ'', "Names") is the second book of the Bible. It narrates the story of the Exodus, in which the Israelites leave slavery in Biblical Egypt through ...duringMoses Moses hbo, מֹשֶׁה, Mōše; also known as Moshe or Moshe Rabbeinu ( Mishnaic Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ, ); syr, ܡܘܫܐ, Mūše; ar, موسى, Mūsā; grc, Mωϋσῆς, Mōÿsēs () is considered the most important pr ...' vision of theburning bush The burning bush (or the unburnt bush) refers to an event recorded in the Jewish Torah (as also in the biblical Old Testament). It is described in the third chapter of the Book of Exodus as having occurred on Mount Horeb. According to the .... The original Negro spiritual mentions the singer's mother but the hit version does not.Lonnie Donegan Anthony James Donegan (29 April 1931 – 3 November 2002), known as Lonnie Donegan, was a British skiffle singer, songwriter and musician, referred to as the " King of Skiffle", who influenced 1960s British pop and rock musicians. Born in Scot ...reached #6 in theUK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...with his cover version in 1961.Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an internati ...recorded a popular version of it for his 1962 ''Midnight Special'' album.Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notabl ...included it in his ''Children's Concert at Town Hall'' in 1963.The Lennon Sisters The Lennon Sisters are an American vocal group made up of four sisters. The quartet originally consisted of Dianne (aka DeeDee; born Dianne Barbara, December 1, 1939), Peggy (born Margaret Anne, April 8, 1941), Kathy (born Kathleen Mary, Augu ...recorded a version which was later featured as a bonus track from their album "The Lennon Sisters Sing Great Hits".Trini Lopez Trinidad López III (May 15, 1937 – August 11, 2020) was an American singer, guitarist, and actor. His first album included a cover version of Pete Seeger's " If I Had a Hammer", which earned a Golden Disc for him. His other hits include ...had a minor hit with it in 1964. The Israeli-French singerRika Zaraï Rika Zaraï ( he, ריקה זראי; 19 February 1938 – 23 December 2020) was a Franco-Israeli singer and writer. Early life Rika Gozman (later Zarai) was born in Jerusalem. Her father came from Odessa (now Ukraine) in the Russian Empire, a ...also recorded a French version under the title "Michaël" in 1964. The African-American gospel/folk duo Joe & Eddie recorded it for their "Walking Down the Line" album in 1965. Pete Seeger sang a solo version at a 1968Town Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...children's concert, recorded live and released on Harmony Records (#H30399, track B3), a budget label ofColumbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A .... The Carawans' recording from St. Johns Island of "Jane Hunter and three Moving Star Hall singers" of a traditional "Row, Michael, Row," was released by Smithsonian Folkways Records in 1967 on the album, ''Been in the Storm So Long''. The song was recorded byThe Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by the ...for their 1976 15 Big Ones album but was left off the final running order.Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often Brian Wilson is a genius, called a genius for his novel approaches to pop music, pop composition, ex ...rearranged the song, giving it a rich arrangement with sound similar to the many other covers recorded during this period, including a complex vocal arrangement. Mike Love sang lead vocals. Richard Jon Smith's version spent nine weeks in mid-1979 at #1 in South Africa. The counselors sing the song, along with "Down in the Valley" in the opening scene of the 1980 horror film, ''Friday the 13th Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year but can occur up to three times in the same year. ...''. A German version is "Michael, bring dein Boot an Land" by Ronny ( de). A German gospel version is "Hört, wen Jesus glücklich preist" (A song of theBeatitudes The Beatitudes are sayings attributed to Jesus, and in particular eight blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, and four in the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke, followed by four woes which mir ...). The German disco groupDschinghis Khan Dschinghis Khan (; "Genghis Khan") was a German Eurodisco pop band. It was originally formed in Munich in 1979 to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest with their song " Dschinghis Khan". The original group led by original members Henriette Str ...recorded a version of it in 1981. The Smothers Brothers did a fairly straightforward version of the song on their album ''It Must Have Been Something I Said! ''"It Must Have Been Something I Said!"'' is the fifth comedy album from the Smothers Brothers (released April 15, 1964 on Mercury Records). It reached number 23 on the ''Billboard'' Pop Albums chart. The single "Jenny Brown" had peaked at #84 o ...'', before turning it into a comic sing-along on ''Golden Hits of the Smothers Brothers, Vol. 2 ''Golden Hits of the Smothers Brothers, Vol. 2'' (released July 1966) is the Smothers Brothers' first greatest hits album. There is no Volume 1, but all of the routines had been performed on earlier comedy albums by the duo. These are not the sa ...'' (which is also included on their album '' Sibling Revelry: The Best of the Smothers Brothers''). Sule Greg Wilson produced a version based uponAllen Allen, Allen's or Allens may refer to: Buildings * Allen Arena, an indoor arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee * Allen Center, a skyscraper complex in downtown Houston, Texas * Allen Fieldhouse, an indoor sports arena on the Univer .../ Ware/Garrison A garrison (from the French ''garnison'', itself from the verb ''garnir'', "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a mili ..., as well as Row, Michael Row, by Jane Hunter and Moving Star Hall singers. The Wilson version featuresTuscarora Tuscarora may refer to the following: First nations and Native American people and culture * Tuscarora people **'' Federal Power Commission v. Tuscarora Indian Nation'' (1960) * Tuscarora language, an Iroquoian language of the Tuscarora people * ...vocalist Pura Fé (with Wilson on instruments and background vocals). It was used for the end credits of ''The Librarian and the Banjo'', Jim Carrier's 2013 film on Dena Epstein, author of the book, ''Sinful Tunes and Spirituals''.Greg & Steve Greg & Steve are a musical duo based in Los Angeles, California. The duo, composed of Greg Scelsa (born October 29, 1947) and Steve Millang (born May 10, 1947), has been performing and recording children's music since the late 1970s. Scelsa and Mi ...appropriated the Saletan tune and substituted original lyrics for their song, "A Man Named King," on the 1989 ''Holidays & Special Times'' album. Raffi sings this song on his 1994 ''Bananaphone __NOTOC__ ''Bananaphone'' is a children's album released by Raffi and Michael Creber in 1994. The album is best known for its title track, which uses puns such as "It's a phone with appeal!" (a peel) and nonce words like "bananular" and "inte ...'' album.Peter, Paul and Mary Peter, Paul and Mary was an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival phenomenon. The trio consisted of tenor Peter Yarrow, baritone Paul Stookey, and contralto Mary Travers. The group's reper ...included it on their 1998 ''Around the Campfire'' album. The melody, as adapted by Saletan in 1954, was also appropriated for use in a hymn entitled ''Glory Be to God on High''.
See also
* Christian child's prayer § Spirituals
References
External links
Audio sample
of the song performed by the German choi
Outta Limits
Free MP3 Download for use in services performed by Richard Irwin
{{authority control 19th-century songs American folk songs American children's songs 1961 singles Harry Belafonte songs The Highwaymen (folk band) songs Songs about rivers Trini Lopez songs Pete Seeger songs Peter, Paul and Mary songs Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Cashbox number-one singles UK Singles Chart number-one singles Number-one singles in Norway Year of song unknown Gullah culture United Artists Records singles Song recordings produced by Lou Adler African-American spiritual songs