Michael Row the Boat Ashore
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"Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" (or "Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore") is an African-American spiritual from the Sea Islands of Georgia. It was first published in Slave Songs of the United States, by William Francis Allen et al., in 1867.[1]
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[edit] Lyrics
The song's refrain is, "Michael, row the boat ashore, Hallelujah." The lyrics describe crossing the River Jordan:
- Jordan's River is deep and wide, hallelujah.
- Meet my mother on the other side, hallelujah.
- Jordan's River is chilly and cold, hallelujah.
- Chills the body, but not the soul, hallelujah.[2]
The River Jordan is often used as a metaphor for death. [3] According to Slave Songs of the United States, the "Michael" referred to in the song is the Archangel Michael. [4] In Christian tradition, Michael is often considered a psychopomp, or conductor of the souls of the dead.[5]
[edit] Recordings
One of the earliest recordings of the song is by folksinger Bob Gibson, who included it on his 1957 Carnegie Concert album.[6] After The Weavers included an arrangement in The Weavers' Song Book, published in 1960, The Highwaymen had a number-one hit with it (under the simpler title of "Michael") in 1961.[7] Harry Belafonte recorded a popular version of it for his 1962 Midnight Special album; Pete Seeger included it in his Children's Concert at Town Hall in 1963.
[edit] In popular culture
- The Smothers Brothers put their usual irreverent twist on the song, originally in their album It Must Have Been Something I Said!, and reprised in their album Sibling Revelry: The Best of the Smothers Brothers.
- In an episode of Wings, cab driver Antonio Scarpacci (Tony Shalhoub) decides to supplement his income by gathering donations for singing the song (the only song he knows), while strumming his guitar, to the audience at the airport. The average passenger only hears it once or twice, but café manager Helen Chappel (Crystal Bernard) puts up with "Michael... rowin' that boat ashore for two freakin' days!" before finally snapping and attacking Antonio with his own guitar.
- In "Faith Off", a Season 11 episode of The Simpsons, Reverend Lovejoy plays the song on an electric guitar to win back his flock.
| Preceded by "Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn)" by Joe Dowell |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single (The Highwaymen version) September 4, 1961 |
Succeeded by "Take Good Care of My Baby" by Bobby Vee |
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore", The Traditional Ballad Index.
- ^ "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore", Pete Seeger Appreciation Page.
- ^ Walter E. Gast, "River", Symbols in Christian Art and Architecture.
- ^ William Francis Allen, Charles Pickard Ware, and Lucy McKim Garrison, Slave Songs of the United States, p. xvi.
- ^ "St. Michael the Archangel", The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913.
- ^ "Merr to Mif", Folk Music Index.
- ^ "The Highwaymen: Biography", All Music.
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