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18 Feb 01 - 06:32 PM (#401064) Subject: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST,Sheila With Black History Month, this song came up and it was suggested that it was a "code song" in the days of slavery indicating a name (Michael, Sarah, etc.) and the mode of travel. Is this song that old? I associate it with the Weavers and/or Peter, Paul and Mary. Or are they just the performers? Thanks for any input. Sheila |
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18 Feb 01 - 07:28 PM (#401090) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: artbrooks According to "Rise Up Singing", it is a traditional spiritual and was first collected in "Slave Songs of the US" on 1867. Hope that helps. |
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19 Feb 01 - 12:20 AM (#401248) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST,Sheila Art, thanks a lot. Does the book give any information about it? |
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19 Feb 01 - 12:32 AM (#401254) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST, WYSIWYG Hi, Sheila. On the Forum page, up above the the top of the thread list, is a search box labeled "Digitrad and Forum Search." If you enter the song title there, you'll pull up a list of threads from the past that you can click into and see what people said about this song. A couple of them looked really interesting. ~Susan |
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19 Feb 01 - 12:34 AM (#401255) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: raredance Indeed Michael can be found in "Slave Songs of the United States" by William Francis Allen, Charles Pickard Ware, and Lucy McKim Garrison. They include two versions with a total of 29 "verses" . W. F. Allen wrote in the introductory text: "The same songs are used for rowing as for shouting . I know only one pure boat-song, the fine lyric, "Michael row the boat ashore"; and this I have no doubt is a real spiritual - it being the archangel Michael that is addressed... "As I have written these tune," says Mr. Ware, "two measures are to be sung to each stroke,the first being accented by the beginning of the stroke, the second by the rattle of the oars in the row-locks. On the passenger boat at the [Beaufort] ferry, they rowed from sixteen to thirty strokes a minute; twenty-four was the average. Of the tunes I have heard....'Lay this body down', 'Religion so sweet', and 'Michael row', were used when the load was heavy or the tide was against us." rich r |
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19 Feb 01 - 12:39 AM (#401260) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST, WYSIWYG ... sigh... lovely, Rich. We do this in church sometimes for our acoustic Saturday night service. I'll tell this next time, and when I autoharp it the rhythm will have shifted a bit I think... thank you, Rich. ~Susan |
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19 Feb 01 - 01:39 AM (#401279) Subject: ADD: Michael Row the Boat Ashore^^ From: Joe Offer I think I have the same book Rich has (I have the Dover edition), but I can't find where he's reading those notes. Clue me in, willya, Rich? Thanks to Mr. Scanner, I have the additional verses. -Joe Offer- MICHAEL ROW THE BOAT ASHORE (2) 1 Michael row de boat ashore, Hallelujah! 2 Michael boat a gospel boat... 3 I wonder where my mudder deh (there). 4 See my mudder on de rock gwine home. 5 On de rock gwine home in Jesus' name. 6 Michael boat a music boat. 7 Gabriel blow de trumpet horn. 8 O you mind your boastin' talk. 9 Boastin' talk will sink your soul. 10 Brudder, lend a helpin' hand. 11 Sister, help for trim dat boat. 12 Jordan stream is wide and deep. 13 Jesus stand on t' oder side. 14 I wonder if my maussa deh. 15 My fader gone to unknown land. 16 O de Lord he plant his garden deh. 17 He raise de fruit for you to eat. 18 He dat eat shall neber die. 19 When de riber overflow. 20 O poor sinner, how you land? 21 Riber run and darkness comin'. 22 Sinner row to save your soul. Words from Hilton Head: Michael haul the boat ashore. Source: "Slave Songs of the United States" (1867, Allen/Ware/Garrison) @spiritual @sailor ^^ |
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19 Feb 01 - 09:35 AM (#401400) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST,Sheila You are all incredible!! Thanks for my enlightenment. Happy President's Day. Sheila |
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19 Feb 01 - 10:11 AM (#401415) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: raredance Joe, try page XVI if your copy follows the page layout of the original. I have the 1929 Peter Smith edition and the 60's Oak publication |
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19 Feb 01 - 10:35 AM (#401430) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST,Sheila Susan, I did look for that Forum search box, but I keep getting the lyrics. What am I doing wrong or what am I not doing? Thanks. Sheila |
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19 Feb 01 - 03:59 PM (#401653) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: Joe Offer I know what you mean, Sheila. I searched and found too many references to "Michael," but none that gave substantial information. I think what Rich pointed out is the most substantial information I've seen (and now that Rich pointed me to it, I wonder why I couldn't find it on my own). Anybody know where we can findinformation about this song? -Joe Offer- |
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19 Feb 01 - 04:19 PM (#401670) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: raredance Joe you have to remember I'm two time zones ahead of you ;-) rich r |
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19 Feb 01 - 05:42 PM (#401743) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: catspaw49 This song was addressed from a LOT of different angles including the underground railroad on this thread. Its long and it wanders (typical Mudcat) but really hits some points from the undergound code to sexism. Spaw |
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19 Feb 01 - 06:47 PM (#401798) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: Bill D "Michael, row the boat ashore, Allelujah! For I fear I've lost my oar.. Allelujah! |
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20 Feb 01 - 01:40 AM (#402001) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: Joe Offer Michael's boat is a sinkin' fast, Hallelujah! See how fast he climbs that mast. Hallelujah! |
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20 Feb 01 - 07:54 AM (#402082) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: raredance They threw Daniel in the lions' den, Hallelujah Lions threw Daniel back out again, Hallelujah
Reason the lions they do that, Hallelujah from a Belafonte recording rich r |
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06 Jun 10 - 04:01 PM (#2921926) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST, Chords try it like this not too fast capo 5(or to your liking) g,c,g,d/f#,am7,d,g,d,g sing somewhere between Pete Seeger and The Brothers Four. Don't bang on the guitar and try to get everyone to join in. |
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07 Jun 10 - 09:40 AM (#2922338) Subject: RE: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: Stringsinger What's not known about the popularity of the song is that it was arranged and taught to Pete Seeger by Tony Saletan who discovered it in" Slave Songs of the United States". |
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25 Sep 12 - 11:03 AM (#3409938) Subject: RE: Origins: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST This was a 1961 number 1 for the Highwaymen, and sung by myself in last years gigs to a warm reception! The words as sung by the Highwaymen were first recorded in 1957 by Bob Gibson and I sing them too. |
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16 Nov 15 - 12:44 PM (#3751355) Subject: RE: Origins: Michael Row the Boat Ashore From: GUEST I have sung and played this song loads of times...I know there are at least two songs to this tune (the other one I know of being 'Come And Praise The Lord Our King) but I would love to know which one came first. I often review songs and I find this website a valuable resource, would love to know any more about the history of Come And Praise. Thanks :) |