Digital Tradition Mirror

Down the River (2)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Down the River (2)

Oh! the river is up and the channel is deep,
And the wind blows steady and strong.
Let the splash of your oars the measure keep,
As we row the old boat along.
Oh! the water is bright, and flashing like gold,
In the ray of the morning sun.
And old Dinah's away up out of the cold,
A-getting the hoe-cake done.
Oh! the river is up and the channel is deep,
And the wind blows steady and strong.
Let the splash of your oars the measure keep
As we row the old boat along.

cho: Down the river, down the river, Down the Ohio;
     Down the river, down the river, Down the Ohio.

Oh! the master is proud of the old broad-horn,
For it brings him plenty of tin.
Oh! the crew they are darkies, the cargo is corn,
And the money comes tumbling in.
There is plenty on board for the darkies to eat,
And there's something to drink and to smoke,
There's the banjo, the bones, and the tambourine-
There's the song, and the comical joke.
Oh! the river is up, etc.

From Treasury of Mississippi Folklore, Lomax
note: Botkin got this from the American Broadside Collection, Auner
     it has the same tune as the play-party version ( see DOWNRIVR)  except
     that the chorus only occurs every other verse. RG
RG
                                                 apr96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!