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Lyr Req: Lightly Row

08 Sep 99 - 02:53 PM (#112541)
Subject: Lightly Row
From: JACate3@aol.com

Does anyone know the words to the German Folk Song "Lightly Row"?

Thanks.

Jac

08 Sep 99 - 09:53 PM (#112659)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: campfire

Geez, that was first recital piece on the piano - too bad I didn't sing it, or I'd remember the words. I can still play that song blindfolded! The lesson book DID have lyrics - but don't know if they were "real" or just made up for the lesson book. What I remember is:

Lightly row, lightly row,
O'er the (Can't remember) we go
Smoothly glide, smoothly glide
O'er the waves we ride

Let the wind and water be
(Absolutely know idea...)
Lightly row, lightly row,
In our little boat.

If I can find my old piano book... (yeah, right)

Maybe someone else can fill in my blanks.

campfire

09 Sep 99 - 11:27 AM (#112815)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: black walnut

this is crazy....i have hundreds of songs like this at my fingertips, but not this one. i'll keep searching for you....

~black walnut

09 Sep 99 - 05:48 PM (#112976)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: Jacate3

I'm looking for the lyrics to help my daughter with her piano practicing. We're doing Suzuki and it is easier for her to learn the song if she sings while she plays.

jac

10 Sep 99 - 06:39 PM (#113264)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: campfire

I went to the music store and - lo and behold - the same music book I had is still being printed and sold. And so:

Lightly row, Lightly row,
O'er the glassy waves we go
Smoothly gilde, smoothly glide,
In the silent tide.
Let the wind and waters be
Mingled with our melody
Sing and float, sing and float
In our little boat.

Considering I played this piece more than 30 years ago, I guess my memory isn't too bad after all!

campfire

10 Sep 99 - 10:35 PM (#113293)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: raredance

CAmpfire, You're good. I had that same piano book and all I could remember was the first line, which is nothing more than the title.

rich r

11 Sep 99 - 12:19 AM (#113334)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: jacate3

Thanks!!

13 Sep 03 - 05:36 AM (#1018058)
Subject: Lyr Add: LIGHTLY ROW / SPANISH MELODY
From: masato sakurai

The version in J.P. McCaskey's Franklin Square Song Collection, No.1 (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1881, p. 24) is as follows. It is called "Spanish Melody."

       LIGHTLY ROW

1. Lightly row! Lightly row!
    O'er the glassy waves we go;
    Smoothly gilde! Smoothly glide!
    On the silent tide.
    Let the winds and waters be
    Mingled with our melody;
    Sing and float! Sing and float!
    In our little boat.

2. Far away! Far away!
    Echo in the rock at play,
    Calleth not, Calleth not,
    To this lonely spot.
    Only with te seabird's note,
    Shall our dying music float!
    Lightly row! Lighly row!
    Echo's voice is low.

3. [repeat the 1st stanza]

This song with two stanzas is also in Luther Whiting Mason's National Music Charts, 1st series (Boston: Ginn Brothers, 1872, p. 10); the title is "The Boat Song." Based on the tune in the charts, a Japanese song titled "Choochoo" ("The Butterfly") was made in 1881 and is widely sung still today in Japan.

A score ("Rightly Row" variations for the piano, by Wm. C. Wright) is at American Memory. The score says it is a "German air varied."

      Lightly row / by Wm. C. Wright (Oneonta: Dye & Saunders, 1874)

Spanish, or German -- Which is correct?

13 Sep 03 - 05:53 AM (#1018067)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: masato sakurai

Also in Joe Mitchell Chapple's Heart Songs (1909, p. 129) as "Spanish Melody."

14 Sep 03 - 02:21 AM (#1018468)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: masato sakurai

Correction: Lightly Row.

Found German versions (with midi):
(1) Alles neu macht der Mai
Text: H. A. von Kamp (1818) - Musik: Volksweise

Alles neu macht der Mai, macht die Seele frisch und frei.
Laßt das Haus, kommt hinaus, windet einen Strauß!
Rings erglänzet Sonnenschein, duftend pranget Flur und Hain,
Vogelsang, Hörnerklang tönt den Wald entlang.

(2) Hänschen klein
Text: Volkstümlich - Musik: H. A. von Kamp

Hänschen klein geht allein in die weite Welt hinein,
Stock und Hut steht ihm gut, er ist wohlgemüt.
Aber Mutter weinet sehr, hat ja nun kein Hänschen mehr.
"Wünsch dir Glück" sagt ihr Blick, "Kehr nur bald zurück."

Sieben Jahr trüb und klar Hänschen in der Fremde war.
Da besinnt sich das Kind, eilt nach Haus geschwind.
Doch nun ist's kein Hänschen mehr. Nein, ein großer Hans ist er.
Braun gebrannt Stirn und Hand. Wird er wohl erkannt?

Eins, zwei, drei geh'n vorbei, wissen nicht, wer das wohl sei.
Schwester spricht: "Welch Gesicht?" Kennt den Bruder nicht.
Kommt daher die Mutter sein, schaut ihm kaum ins Aug hinein,
Ruft sie schon: "Hans, mein Sohn! Grüß dich Gott, mein Sohn!"
Which did H. A. von Kamp write, music or words?

14 Sep 03 - 02:42 AM (#1018473)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: masato sakurai

"Lightly Row" (with score & 2 stanzas)" is also in Albert E. Wier, ed., The Book of A Thousand Songs (Carl Fischer, 1918). The 6th line in stz. 2 here is "Shall our happy music float."

15 Sep 03 - 01:36 PM (#1019342)
Subject: Lyr Add: Alles neu, macht der Mai
From: masato sakurai

A 3-stanza German version from here.

Alles neu, macht der Mai
H. Adam v. Kamp, 1818 (1796-1867)

1. Alles neu, macht der Mai,
Macht die Seele frisch und frei
Laßt das Haus, kommt hinaus,
Windet einen Strauß!
Rings erglänzet Sonnenschein,
Duftend pranget Flur und Hain;
Vogelsang, Hörnerklang
Tönt den Wald entlang.   

2. Wir durchzieh'n Saaten grün,
Haine, die ergötzend blüh'n,
Waldespracht neu gemacht,
Nach des Winters Nacht.
Dort im Schatten an dem Quell
Rieselnd munter, silberhell,
Klein und Groß ruht im Moos,
Wie im weichen Schoß.

3. Hier und dort, fort und fort,
Wo wir ziehen Ort für Ort
Alles freut sich der Zeit,
Die verjüngt, erneut,
Widerschein der Schöpfung blüht
Uns erneuernd im Gemüt.
Alles neu, frisch und frei
Macht der holde Mai.

English-languge "Lovely May" may be based on the German version.

09 Dec 03 - 08:46 AM (#1068380)
Subject: Lyr Add: SMILING MAY and FRESH AND FAIR ALL THINGS
From: masato sakurai

There are three sets of lyrics to this tune in Lowell Mason & George James Webb, eds., The Song-Book of the School-Room (Boston: Wilkins, Carter, & Co., 1850). One is titled "Boat Song" (pp. 30-31), which is the same as "Lightly Row." The other two (pp. 55 and 101 respectively) are as follows:

       SMILING MAY
      Tune,--"Boat Song," p. 30.

         1
      Smiling May,
      Comes in play,
Making all things fresh and gay;
      "From the hall
      Come ye all;"
   Thus, the flowers call.
Fragrant is the flowery vale,
Sparkles now the dewy dale,
      Music floats,
      Cheering notes,
   Music sweetly floats.

         2
      As we stray,
      Breezes play,
Through the meadow's rich array.
      All is bright,
      Cheerful sight,
   After winter's night.
Shadows now is quivering glance;
On the silvery fountain dance;
      Insects bright,
      Sail in light,
   Cheerful, happy sight.

      FRESH AND FAIR, ALL THINGS ARE
       Tune,--"Boat Song," p. 30.

         1
Fresh and fair, all things are,
Flowery fragrance fills the air:
Fresh and fair, all things are,
   Fragrance fills the air.
Merrily our little boat,
With the breeze doth gently float.
Fresh and fair, all things are,
   Fragrance fills the air.

       2
Bowers green, now are seen,
Reddest roses peep between.
Bowers green, now are seen,
   Roses peep between.
Swelling over hill and dale,
Music floats upon the gale.
Bowers green, now are seen,
   Roses peep between.

       3
Music's note, still doth float,
While we row our little boat:
Music's note, still doth float,
   While we row our little boat.
Birds are wheeling in the air,
All we see is bright and fair.
Music's note, still doth float,
   Sailing in our boat.

       4
Happy we, full of glee,
Sailing on the wavy sea:
Happy we, full of glee,
   Sailing on the sea.
Luna sheds he softest light,
Stars are sparkling, twinkling bright.
Happy we, full of glee,
   Sailing on the sea.

10 Dec 03 - 07:25 PM (#1069767)
Subject: Lyr Add: SILENTLY, SILENTLY
From: masato sakurai

From Dainty songs for little lads and lasses : for use in the kindergarten, school and home / by James R. Murray (Cincinnati : John Church Co., c1887, p. 29):
SILENTLY, SILENTLY
Air,--"Lightly Row." By E. Woodbury

1. Silently, silently
Ope and close the school-room door;
Carefully, carefully
Walk upon the floor.
Let us, let us strive to be
From disorder ever free,
Happily, happily
Passing time away.

2. Cheerfully, cheerfully
Let us in our work engage;
With a zeal, with a zeal
Far beyond our age;
And if we should chance to find
Lessons that perplex the mind,
Persevere! persevere!
Never borrow fear.

3. Now we sing, now we sing
Gaily as the birds of spring;
As they hop, as they hop,
On the high tree top.
Let us be as prompt as they,
In our work or in our play;
Happily, happily
Passing time away.
See also SONG OF ADDITION & SONG OF SUBSTRACTION on pp. 68-69.

10 Dec 03 - 07:36 PM (#1069780)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: masato sakurai

Sorry, it's from a different book (page numbers are correct, though). The reference should have been:

School melodies : containing a choice collection of popular airs with original and appropriate words composed expressly for the use of schools / by J.W. Greene (Boston : Morris Cotton, c1852).

31 May 09 - 01:31 PM (#2644959)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: GUEST,ron deutsch

I'm picking up this thread a bit later. Did anyone ever figure out what the origins of this song are? The earliest source here seems to be the three sets from Lowell Mason & George James Webb, eds., The Song-Book of the School-Room (Boston: Wilkins, Carter, & Co., 1850), posted by masato sakurai. But do we think that the english versions are adapted from another culture? Does the german come first? What about the references to the "spanish melodies". Has anyone found a Spanish source?

31 May 09 - 02:08 PM (#2644989)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: Kent Davis

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

05 Nov 11 - 09:00 AM (#3250755)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lightly Row
From: GUEST,Beginner

Hi All

I am learning Piano Suzuki method; am on Book 1 and when I play Lightly Row [a German folk song] my teacher sings the first line as: Elephant, Elephant likes to swing his trunk up high.

I cannot seem to find the rest of the lyrics...would any of you be able to help me???

Many thanks

Beginner