Learn how to play easy children song, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” with just one hand, free sheet music also provided. As a traditional folk song, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” doesn’t have a single known composer or a precise date of creation, but it has become an enduring part of children’s musical culture.
The exact origin of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” is unclear, and there is no definitive record of who created the song or the exact year it was first published. It is considered a traditional English nursery rhyme, and like many folk songs, it has evolved over time through oral transmission.
The song first appeared in print in the 19th century, though its origins may date back even earlier. One of the first known published versions appeared in the 1850s, in a collection called “The Nursery Rhymes of England” by James Orchard Halliwell. The song has since become a staple of children’s music around the world.
Here’s a simple version of the melody for “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” using note names, assuming you’re in the key of C major. The song is often sung in a 4/4 time signature.
Notes:
C C C C
Row, row, row your boat,
E D C C
Gently down the stream.
C C C C
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
E D C C
Life is but a dream.
Each note represents a syllable of the song. This version is simple and can be played on piano, xylophone, or other melody instruments. You can also adjust the key or notes to suit different instruments or preferences!