"On the surface, lilies white,
A painted skiff with a singing crew,
Sky-reflections soft and bright,
Tremulous crimson, gold, and blue."*
The Story Behind the Song
"Michael Row The Boat Ashore" is a 19th century American folksong
which is said to be from the slave era, and whose lyrics speak of
crossing the River Jordan to find, "milk and honey on the other side",
-that joyous day when we will meet the Lord, and be reunited with family
members and friends who have preceded us in death- in the Promised Land.
Recorded by the folk group, The Highwaymen, in 1960, this stirring
song became a favorite anthem during the Civil Rights Movement.
*An excerpt from the poem.
"Under The Surface"
(1831)
Frances Ridley Havergal
(1836-1879)
English Christian hymn writer and poetess
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