Gibb-

This thread is a potential minefield for mistranscribed East Asian shanties, not to mention some attrocious Western ethnocentric ditties which make fun of the indigenous people. That being said, I look forward to what you're able to harvest.

One traditional rowing song that comes to mind, recorded by The Boarding Party on TOO FAR FROM THE SHORE, 2003), is a Bengali one. In Jonathan Eberhart's notes he says they learned it from Hita Brata ("Bachoi") Roy, whose family has performed traditional Indian music in the Washington area for many years under the name "Ganga." It is an example of a bhatiali, a song used only for rowing downstream...Bachoo says the song is more than 200 years old, because some of the words came into the Bengali language from Farsi and Arabicat about that time...Bachoo remembers hearing his grandfather, who died in 1931 at the age of 113, sing the song.

Oray Sujon Naiya

Oray sujon naiya
Oray sujon naiya

Kon ba konnar deshe jaore
Kon ba konnar deshe jaore

Chander deenga baiya

Oray sujon naiya
Oray sujon naiya

Lokhkho tarar noyon kolay
Lokhkho tarar noyon kolay

Oray karchahonir karchahonir manik jawle
Oray karchahonir karchahonir manik jawle

Abchcha megher pawtro khani
Abchcha megher pawtro khani

Le deelo pathaiya

Oray sujon naiya
Oray sujon naiya

The loose translation of this song provided:

Oh, you good boatman

Which girl's home are you heading for?

By paddling the dinghy of the moon

Who is looking through the corner of the eyes of a million stars?

Whose gems sparkle in their looks

Who is sending a letter through the dim clouds?

Who is sending it?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble