Today in Music (1852): “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” published

Row, Row, Row Your Boat Elphalet Oram Lyte

Writer(s): Eliphalet Oram Lyte (?) (see lyrics here) First Published: October 4, 1852 First Charted: -- Peak: -- (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 712.4 video, 150.47 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” often sung as a round, dates back to at least 1852 when lyrics similar to today’s version were published but with a different tune. WK It appears to have originated as an American minstrel tune. JF It was copyrighted again in 1854 under the title “Gently Down the Stream.” JF The modern tune was published in 1881 in The Franklin Square Song Collection and credited to Eliphalet Oram Lyte, but it wasn’t clear if he was the composer or adapter. WS An AI overview of the song describes it as “a metaphor for life, encouraging perseverance, a positive attitude, and enjoying the journey. The lyrics suggest a persistent, yet gentle, approach to life's challenges, framing life's journey as a stream that one must navigate with both determination (‘row’) and joy (‘merrily’). The phrase ‘life is but a dream’ can be interpreted as a reminder of life's impermanence, or as an encouragement to live a life that feels as good as a dream.” AI The song is often sung as a round but has also become popular as a children’s nursery rhyme. It is sometimes done with actions as well. YouTube features multiple videos of the song as recorded by artists (CoCo Melon, Gracie’s Corner, Nursery Rhymes TV, Super Simple Songs, the Wiggles) specifically focused on creating content for children. The song has been featured in multiple movies, including Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and television shows such as Sesame Street and Blackadder. WK SecondHandSongs.com indicate the song has been recorded at least thirty times, including versions by the Chipmunks, Bing Crosby, Arthur Godfrey, Lisa Loeb, and Tina Turner. SH Resources: AI Google.com AI overview JF James J. Fuld (2000). The Book of World-Famous Music: Classical, Popular, and Folk. Dover Publications: Mineola, NY. Pages 475-6. SH SecondHandSongs.com WS William Studwell (1997). The American Song Reader. The Haworth Press, Inc.: Binghampton, NY. Page 82. WK Wikipedia First posted 12/6/2025.