Michael, Row the Boat Ashore

"Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" is a traditional African-American spiritual, first collected among formerly enslaved Gullah residents of the Georgia Sea Islands in the 1860s. The song was rediscovered, rearranged, and introduced into the folk revival of the early 1950s by Tony Saletan. Pete Seeger sings the song with Big Bird and the kids on Sesame Street in Episode 0140. 
On the 1974 record album Pete Seeger & Brother Kirk Visit Sesame Street, Big Bird wants to sing a song with Pete Seeger and Brother Kirk, so Pete suggests "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore", and tells Big Bird to sing the "Hallelujah" at the end of every line. Replicating his interaction with Pete from Episode 0140, Big Bird has some trouble figuring out what he's supposed to do. First, he misses coming in entirely. Then, he just belts out the "Hallelujah" too early, and sings the wrong notes. The third time, he holds the "Hallelujah" too long, and the fourth time, he doesn't hold it long enough. He asks Pete for some help, and Pete tells the Kids to sing along with Big Bird, and help him come in. Finally, they perform the song.
==Audio releases==
*Pete Seeger & Brother Kirk Visit Sesame Street (1974)
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Category:Sesame Street Songs
Category:Sesame Street Folk