Row, Row, Row Your Boat
U.S.A.
HISTORY AND SONG NOTES
Row, Row, Row Your Boat, is an American folksong. The song was first composed by Eliphalet Oram Lyte in 1852, although Lyte’s original version had a different melody than what we know and sing today. The well known version of the song, that is notated in the score above, was not published until the 1880s.
Row, Row, Row can be used as a group singing song, as the tune is repetitive and easy for young children to sing. The children may enjoy rocking their bodies while they sing the song, or pretending to row a boat; both of these actions support the children in feeling the 6/8 meter of the song, which lends itself to rocking.
This song can also be performed as a round, with older children who know the song confidently and with adult help. The round begins on the third measure, on the word “gently”. You can hear an example of the round within the recording below.