We just learned about the Down to the River to Pray.
Another famous African American spiritual is Michael, Row the Boat Ashore.
During the Civil War the Union troops of the north were fighting to end slavery, and the Confederates of the south were fighting to keep it.
When the northern Union troops came down to South Carolina, they freed the slaves and the southern Confederates ran away.
On one of the islands in South Carolina called Saint Helena Island, there was an old farm where people that used to be slaves were still working to keep the farm going.
When a man named Charles Pickard Ware came down to see how the freed slaves were living, he was in a boat with them and they were singing this song.
He wrote it down and shared it with others to show that the slaves were good Christian people and should never have been made slaves.
The song talks about Michael, which most people think is supposed to be the angel Michael that the Bible talks about.
Michael is rowing the boat ashore, and the song is about woring to a great place with milk and honey on the other side, which is supposed to be heaven.
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah.
Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah. Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah.
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah.
The River Jordan is chilly and cold, hallelujah. Chills the body but not the soul, hallelujah.
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah.
The river is deep and the river is wide, hallelujah. Milk and honey on the other side, hallelujah.
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah.
(from: wikipedia - michael, row the boat ashore)
Kid Facts - Blast from the past: It Is Well With My Soul