This is a "Negro Spritual" song dating back to the American
Civil War, and was recorded by Charles Ware on St. Helena
Island in the early 1860s. The words have evolved and are
very far from the original, but the melody is still the same,
as Mr. Ware (a Harvard graduate) actually recorded the melody
in standard music notation.
This song was first published in 1867.
Michael (Row the Boat Ashore) - The Highwaymen 1961
Whistle: 2 lines (ie: 1st and 2nd lines of chorus).
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelu-jah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelu-jah
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelu-jah
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelu-jah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelu-jah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelu-jah
The river Jordan is chilly and cold, hallelu-jah
Chills the body but not the soul, hallelu-jah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelu-jah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelu-jah
The river is deep and the river is wide, hallelu-jah
Milk and honey on the other side, hallelu-jah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelu-jah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelu-jah
Whistle: 2 Lines
TAB by Yarrowyck
https://lyrics.primanota.net/misc-unsigned-bands/highwaymen-michael-row-boat-ashore.htm