In olden days, transportation to the mainland was provided by small boats and strong arms to row them. The oar crews from different plantations prided themselves on their singing, each making up new songs that no other boat would ever sing.
Two of the best known songs whose roots are in this tradition of Georgia Sea Island singing are 'Michael Row the Boat Ashore' and the more recent, 'Pay Me My Money Down.' I learned this song at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago when I was 15 years old. It's been one of my favorite songs ever since.
[D] Michael [F#m] row the boat [Em] ashore, [D] halle [A] lu [D] jah
Sister help to trim the sails, hallelujah
Sister help to trim the sails, hallelujah
Jordan's River is deep and wide, hallelujah
And I've got a home on the other side, hallelujah
Jordan River is chilly and cold, hallelujah
Chills the body but not the soul, hallelujah
When I get to Heaven I'm gonna' sing and shout, hallelujah
Nobody there's gonna' kick me out, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael's boat is a music boat, hallelujah
Michael's boat is a music boat, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
The trumpets sound the Jubilee, hallelujah
The trumpets sound for you and me, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah