Merrily We Roll Along
Datach'i Lyrics

The first stanza of the song "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" talks about Michael, who is rowing a boat towards land, while the second stanza talks about his sister helping him to trim the sail. The repetition of "Hallelujah" in both stanzas of the song depicts the religious fervor of the slaves, who used the song to lift their spirits and express their hope for freedom.

The third stanza of the song talks about the Jordan River, which is often used in African American spirituals as a symbol of crossing over to the Promised Land or freedom. The river is described as cool and cold, which could be a metaphor for the difficulties and hardships of their journey to freedom, but the line "Chills the body but not the soul, Hallelujah" shows their faith unwavering in the face of hardships.

The fourth stanza of the song talks about the Jordan River being deep and wide, but the slaves have hope in the fact that they have a home on the other side. This metaphorical reference to heaven shows that they believed that their earthly struggles would come to an end once they crossed over.

Overall, the lyrics to "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" are a powerful testament to the faith and hope of the slaves in the face of oppression and hardship.