Lyr, Add: STEERSMAN, MY BROTHER
Haiti, rowing song.

Hold the tiller !
Oh, skipper, take care !
(Bb)Can't you see the danger we (F)dare?
(repeat the three lines).

On ev'ry side, oh hear how the wind
Batters the boat.
You- behind there ! Tell us the way
To (Bb) keep us afloat.
(repeat the three lines)

(F)All together !
(Bb)Pull your oar !
(C7)Pull your oar !
(F)Pull your oar !
All together !
(Bb)Pull your oar !
For (C7)we must reach our native shore.-

Frè ti-mon-iè gouvèné bien, oh !
Ou pa ouè si n'engagé, oh !
(repeat the lines)

Devant cou dè yè ven an-fi-ni dé, oh !
Na ramß' devant oua ban non chi-min dè-yè, oh !
(repeat the lines)

Bois nan bois cè' za-vi-ron, za-vi-ron,
Bois nan bois cé za-viron,-
co-teé n'passé cé' za-vi-ron, oh !-
(repeated)

From Canciones Panamericanos, copyright 1942, Silver Burdett Company. Used by permission.
With musical score and chords, pp. 126-127.
Jim Morse, Coll., 1958, Folk Songs of the Caribbean, Bantam Books.