Tumblelight Garden · for parents and caregivers

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Piko and Luma's pretend toy boat goes wibble-wobble until they rock together to one steady beat. The traditional nursery rhyme, plus an original chant, verses and bridge, for ages 2–5.

Actions: Chorus: sit on the floor facing your child, hold both hands and rock forward and back together on the steady beat; sway side to side on 'merrily, merrily'. Chant: rock three times, a little bigger each time, then throw your arms up on 'WHOOSH!'. Verse 1: paddle fast, then slow, then wobble side to side and shrug on 'Which way do we go?'. Verse 2: face each other, hold hands, and rock forward and back together. Bridge: float one hand like a little leaf boat, then wave hello and goodbye. Verse 3: give your grown-up a hug, then rock slowly with your eyes closed. In the 'Again!' round the song plays a little faster: keep rocking together!

Words of the rhyme: traditional (public domain). The opening lines were printed in 1852 and the familiar tune was printed in 1881 (Eliphalet Oram Lyte, The Franklin Square Song Collection). The chant ('Row-a-row, flow-a-flow... WHOOSH!'), verses, bridge and story are original to Tumblelight Garden. Real boats: everyone wears a life jacket and a grown-up stays within arm's reach.

Chorus

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow,
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow,
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow... WHOOSH!

Verse 1

Piko paddles fast, fast, fast,
Luma paddles slow.
Wibble-wobble goes the boat!
Which way do we go?

Verse 2

Face your friend and hold two hands,
Rock it forward, rock it back.
Same slow beat for you and me,
Forward, back, and forward, back!

Chorus

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow,
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow,
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow... WHOOSH!

Bridge

Little leaf boat, sail away,
Past the pebbles, round the bend.
Wave hello and wave goodbye,
See you soon, my leafy friend!

Verse 3

Real boats need life jackets on,
And a grown-up by your side.
Here we row on soft green grass,
Rocking slow, a dreamy ride.

Chorus

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow,
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow,
Row-a-row, flow-a-flow... WHOOSH!

Outro

Row-a-row, flow-a-flow...
Life is but a dream... WHOOSH!