The boatmen's dance
Language: English
Available translation(s): CHI
The boatmen dance, the boatmen sing, The boatmen up to ev'rything, And when the boatman gets on shore He spends his cash and works for more. High row the boatmen row, Floatin' down the river the Ohio. Then dance the boatmen dance, O dance the boatmen dance. O dance all night 'til broad daylight, And go home with the gals in the mornin'. High row the boatmen row. . . etc I went on board the other day To see what the boatmen had to say. There I let my passion loose An' they cram me in the callaboose. O dance the boatmen dance. . . High row the boatmen row . . . etc The boatman is a thrifty man, There's none can do as the boatman can. I never see a pretty gal in my life But that she was a boatman's wife. O dance the boatmen dance. . . High row the boatmen row. . . etc
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , first published 1843 as an "original banjo melody" by Old Dan D. Emmett (who later composed "Dixie") [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990), "The boatmen's dance", 1950, first performed 1950 [voice and piano or orchestra], from Old American Songs, First Set, no. 1. [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CHI Chinese (汉语 / 漢語) (Yen-Chiang Che) , title 1: "船夫之舞", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-06-26
Line count: 23
Word count: 160