Lyr. Add: Extempore Boat Song
Rowing song, by a slave, c1852

Oh! How glad dis niggah are,
Oh! he! yo! ho!
Him see his lubby missis dare!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
Pull de oar and row her home-
Oh! he! yo! ho!
The lilly chiller see her come!
Oh! he! yo! ho!

Lord bless kind massa too!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
You brush his coat, I clean his shoe!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
Good ole Diner kiss his hand!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
His lilly chiller by him stand!
Oh! he! yo! ho!

Dey both far have been away!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
Why so long from niggah stay?
Oh! he! yo! ho!
Bring home your fadder and your mudder
Oh! he! yo! ho!
We love de one just like tother!
Oh! he! yo! ho!

Unky Wardloe! come for missis!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
You tarcoal niggah! mind the missis!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
De big bags see! I gwyne to come!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
I gits de shirt! and you gits none!
Oh! he! yo! ho!

Pull! pull! pull quick oar!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
Pull! Pull! dat is de shore!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
Yar run Carrie! dar sit Diner!
Oh! he! yo! ho!
The lilly chiller all ahind her!
Oh! he! yo! ho!

This rowing song called to mind "Haul Awa', a rowing chantey", posted by Charley Noble, thread 94293. Haul Awa'

"As sung by a slave in "Frank Freeman's Barber Shop, A Tale," by Rev. Bayard R. Hall, D. D. (New York, Charles Scribner, 1852) p. 17.
From Appendix 5, no. 16, Newman I. White, 1928 (1965 reprint by Folklore Assoc.), "American Negro Folk Songs."

Rev. Hall, an abolitionist, was associated with the Park Institute in Brooklyn. His belief was that the Blacks should be freed and returned to Africa. The book is a novel, but parts are factual; it is set in the Sea Islands.
The book traces the evolution of a slave's outlook of acceptance of his condition to his yearning for freedom.
The book is not yet available online.