The ‘Row, Row, Row, Your Boat’ song is one of the most popular English nursery rhymes taught to little ones. The song has a very cheerful tone where the poet describes going down a stream and compares it to how one faces challenges in life. The song originated in America in the 19th century. The song was first included in a medley by Bing Crosby in 1961. However, the earliest printing of the song is from 1852.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat Lyrics In English
The lyrics of Row, Row, Row Your Boat poem are below:
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
What Will Your Child Learn From The Rhyme ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’?
The poem’s main purpose is to teach children how life is never smooth, like a boat going down a stream. Your child will learn that life is full of ups and downs, like a boat goes up and down in a stream or river. You can show your child how boats sail in a river and how boats rock from side to side and go up and down waves. Humans, too, face many difficulties in life and experience ups and downs. One must not give up when one faces a bad phase.
You can also teach them more about sailing, the parts of a boat, and marine life.
Theme Of Row, Row, Row Your Boat
The song’s theme is to teach children that they will face ups and downs in life, just as a boat goes up and down with the waves and that they must not give up no matter what. The poem pushes little ones to enjoy every moment of life and compares a boat sailing down a stream to a human’s journey in life. It talks about how one must sail through life happily, no matter what difficulties one may face. Life is short, and one must thoroughly enjoy it.
Rhyming Scheme Of Row, Row, Row Your Boat
The rhyming scheme or pattern of the song is ABCB. You will observe the second and fourth lines ending with rhyming words, while the first and third lines have a repetition of the words ‘row’ and ‘merrily’, lending the poem a musical touch.
Words That Your Child Will Learn From ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’
Your child will learn nouns like row, boat, stream and dream along with adverbs like gently and merrily. You can also teach your child about other marine words like ships, yachts and ski boats.
Suggested Activities
- A small game is usually played while reciting this rhyme. While reciting the poem, you and your child must sit down facing each other, holding hands. Once you start reciting the poem, you can rock back and forth, enacting the motion of a boat. You can recite the poem however many times as you like.
- To make the poem more fun, you can take your child to a swimming pool or in the tub and perform the same activity as the first one. If your child seems to enjoy learning and enacting the actions, consider buying them marine toys such as boats and fish. This will keep them engaged in the bath and generate interest in marine life, ships and boats. You can also teach them the importance of conserving water and how pollution affects marine life.
FAQs
1. How does one recite the poem?
You must recite the poem in a cheerful and happy tone. Your child must understand the meaning but also enjoy the song.
2. Why is the song so popular?
The song is famous as a nursery rhyme because it is easy to sing, and children enjoy reciting it. The song’s meaning is a lesson children should understand and apply early.
