I have heard this only as a Suzuki method violin piece and didn't know the words. Here are two Suzuki versions:

Lightly row, lightly row,

Floating down the river's way.

Geese and swans are swimming past us,

calling to their little ones.


See the waves dash on the boat,

Feel the water with your hand.

Geese and swans are swimming past us,

calling to their little ones.

http://sites.actx.edu/~suzuki/words%20to%20Suzuki%20pieces.htm


Here's another version:

Lightly row, lightly row
Down the river we will go
Always rowing, never slowing
In my bright new red canoe

See the fishes swimming by
See the birds up in the sky

Always rowing, never slowing
In my bright new red canoe.

http://suzukibath.blogspot.com/2006/04/lyrics-for-book-1-songs.html


Kent