“Michael, Row the Boat Ashore”
Description
"Michael, row the boat ashore, (h)allelujah" (x2). Remaining verses tend to be about the difficulty of crossing (Jordan) to heaven: "Jordan's river is chilly and cold, (h)allelujah; Chills the body but not the soul...."
Notes
Seeger dates this Georgia sea islands worksong from the mid-19th century. - PJS
Cross references
- cf. "I'm Crossing Jordan River" (floating lyrics)
- cf. "All My Trials" (lyrics)
- cf. "Is Your Lamps Gone Out?" (lyrics)
Recordings
- Jane Hunter & Moving Star Hall singers, "Row, Michael, Row" (on BeenStorm1)
- Pete Seeger, "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" (on PeteSeeger12) (on PeteSeeger15)
References
- PSeeger-AFB, p. 75, "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Silber-FSWB, p. 97, "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" (1 text)
- DT, MICHAELR
- Roud #11975
- BI, DTmichae