Lyr Req: Johanna the Rowing / Johanna and Rhody

Subject: rowing song
From: radriano
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 12:44 PM

I'm looking for a rowing song from the West Indies, I believe. Tried searching Mudcat for it without success. I'm not sure of the title but one of the verses goes like this:

Johanna, the rowing. Come row de boat home
Johanna, the rowing. Come row de boat home
Johanna, the rowing. Come row de boat home
Come row de boat, an' let me go home


Thanks,
Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: KathWestra
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 12:50 PM

Hi Richard,
I'm almost certain it's one of Bessie Jones' songs from the Georgia Sea Islands. Unfortunately, my library is not with me here at the office, and my steel-trap middle-aged memory isn't clamped as tight as it used to be. If somebody doesn't jump in with some help before I get home tonight, I'll look it up for you. Kathy

p.s. This is the song Lisa Neustadt from Boston sings so wonderfully, and that we always ask for when we see her.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 12:54 PM

There is this in the DT, but it's not much more than you have.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: radriano
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 03:48 PM

Thanks, KathWestra & Sorcha!

Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Islands sounds right and it isn't much more than what's in the DT. I wonder why I couldn't find it?

Cheers,
Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 06:48 PM

"Johanna" is on Bessie Jones: Put Your Hand On Your Hip (Rounder Heritage Series 1166-11587-2).

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHANNA (from Bessie Jones)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 12:50 AM

Here's the Bessie Jones version (Rounder Heritage Series 1166-11587-2; Click here for sound clip), originally on So Glad I'm Here (Rounder 2015).
^^

JOHANNA
(or "Johanna the Rowin'")

Johanna the rowin', go row the boat, child (sung 3X)
Go row the boat and let me go home.

I'm so tired, go row the boat, child (3X)
Go row the boat and let me go home.

The baby be cryin', go row the boat, child (3X)
Go row the boat and let me go home.

Johanna the rowin', go row the boat, child (3X)
Go row the boat and let me go home.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 01:05 AM

Hey, Kath: Doesn't Wally Macnow sing "Johanna and Rhody, come row the boat, child?" Could it be that he just heard the opening line as that, or did he change it deliberately? If Wally is still scanning this site, we could get him to tell us. Are you there, Wally?

Grampa Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: radriano
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 12:27 PM

Thank you, Masato and Sandy!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: Melani
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 03:45 PM

I think maybe the NexTradition recorded it, but can't find the CD to verify. I suspect my son has swiped it--he has good taste in music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 08:56 PM

You're right; they did! And the song is listed as "Johanna and Rhody." It's on the Folk-Legacy web site. Go to and scroll down the opening page. You'll find it there. Thanks for the reminder!

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 11:04 AM

"Johanna and Rhody" is also on All for Freedom by Sweet Honey In The Rock (Click here).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 12:04 PM

Hi Kathy, I think the 1st time I heard this it was Lisa singing it & I believe she had it from a friend Jackie S who picked it up while visiting the Georgia Sea Islands, Jackie later apologized for getting the opening words & name wrong but I can't remember the details of it.

Thanks MS for the link, unfortunitly the clip doesn't have the voice singing the opening line. I would think that Bessie has this from the Davis's they having it from their grandfather while Bessie not being native to the Islands I would have then thought that she had it from them. Sweet Honey in the Rock also liscense's it from Davis who I believe is the major source of the song. But I'm open to being corrected
Still looking for more input
Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rowing song
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 12:06 PM

Sorry that last post should've gone to the other thread on this same song

Barry

Maybe a clone could join the 2 if they saw a need to.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Johanna the Rowing / Johanna and Rhody
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jun 20 - 12:54 AM

Another version from the Georgia Sea Island Singers

Johanna the Row-Di

Johanna the row-di, go row the boat, child (sung 3X)
Go row the boat and let me go home.
I'm so tired, go row the boat, child (3X)
Go row the boat and let me go home.
The baby’s a cryin', go row the boat, child (3X)
Go row the boat and let me go home.
Johanna the row-di, go row the boat, child (3X)
Go row the boat and let me go home.