row your boat song with the modern tune and lyrics came from american minstrelsy.
where did row your boat song with the modern tune and lyrics come from?
american minstrelsy
it has been suggested that the song may have originally arisen out of american minstrelsy. the earliest printing of the song is from 1852, when the lyrics were published with similar lyrics to those used today, but with a very different tune. it was reprinted again two years later with the same lyrics and another tune. the modern tune was first recorded with the lyrics in 1881, mentioning eliphalet oram lyte in "the franklin square song collection" but not making it clear whether he was the composer or adapter.





























section::::additional or alternative verses.
row, row, row your boat
mingulay boat song





























the "mingulay boat song" is a song written by sir hugh s. roberton (1874–1952) in the 1930s. the melody is described in roberton's "songs of the isles" as a traditional gaelic tune, probably titled "lochaber". the tune was part of an old gaelic song, "òran na comhachaig" (the 'creag ghuanach' portion); from brae lochaber.





























section::::lyrics.





























roberton's lyrics are as follows:





























section::::lyrics.:alternative lyrics.





























later performers have adapted the song via folk process, with alterations to roberton's lyrics. for example:





























the mccalmans sang their own version on the 1973 album "an audience with the mccalmans".
mingulay boat song