Blending warm resonant pop with traditional Kenyan influences, Sauti Sol’s … Read Full Bio ↴Blending warm resonant pop with traditional Kenyan influences, Sauti Sol’s mélange of energetic rhythms have promoted the group to become one of East Africa's most celebrated. Sauti Sol encompass the band’s mix of soulful voices with vocal harmonies, guitar riffs and drum rhythm. With two extremely successful albums in three years, this band reflects a range of musical wealth inspired by African artists including Lokua Kanza, Fadhili Williams, Daudi Kabaka, Fally Ipupa and Salif Keita to British and American artists Coldplay and Jason Mraz.

Sauti Sol’s two albums, Mwanzo (2008) and Sol Filosofia (2011), have received high acclaim on Kenyan charts and gained international attention with shows in Europe and the US, as well as television appearances, various nominations, and most recently their performance with the internationally-renowned South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Row Your Boat
Sauti Sol Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Row row row your boat,
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream
Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream

Oh yeah yeah yeah oh

I call you my papa
You call me your son
I am also your best friend
Close like real brother
I want to take after you
Show me your son how to row
Take my hand into yours
And row our boat our way

Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream
Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream

Ooh
Every time i see you row papa
I smile with pride i feel so good inside
(I wanna be like you daddy) eh
(I wanna be like you daddy)
Every time i fail to do the things
You do there is so much sorrow in my soul
(I wanna be like you daddy)
Like you daddy
(I wanna be like you daddy)
I wanna be, i wanna be, like you, like you daddy
(I wanna be like you daddy)
The way you row,(i wanna be like you daddy)the way you row

Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream
Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream

Merrily merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream

Overall Meaning

At first glance, "Row Your Boat" by Sauti Sol seems like a simple and catchy tune, but a closer look reveals a deeper meaning behind the lyrics. The song opens with the familiar children's song, "Row row row your boat, gently down the stream," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The repetition of "Merrily merrily merrily merrily, life is but a dream" suggests that life is short and should be enjoyed to its fullest, like a dream.

The second verse delves into the relationship between the singer and their father figure. Calling the person "papa" and being referred to as "son" establishes a familial bond, but the line "Close like real brother" suggests an even deeper connection. The singer expresses a desire to learn from the father figure, calling them "best friend" and asking to be shown "how to row." The act of rowing a boat together becomes a metaphor for navigating life, with the father figure showing the singer the way.

The chorus repeats the opening lines, reminding the listener to enjoy life despite its transience. The bridge, however, brings us back to the relationship between the singer and the father figure. The repeated line "I wanna be like you daddy" shows the singer's admiration and desire to emulate the person they look up to. The final repetition of "Row row row your boat" is a call to action, encouraging the listener to take control of their life and steer it in the direction they want.

Overall, "Row Your Boat" is a song about the fleeting nature of life and the importance of relationships and learning from those we admire.

Line by Line Meaning

Row row row your boat
Let's work on this together

Gently down the stream
We'll take it easy as we make progress

Merrily merrily merrily merrily
With joy and enthusiasm

Life is but a dream
Life is fleeting and we should enjoy it while we can

Oh yeah yeah yeah oh
An expression of excitement and anticipation

I call you my papa
You are my role model and guide

You call me your son
I am your student and follower

I am also your best friend
We have a strong bond beyond just family

Close like real brother
Our relationship is as close as siblings

I want to take after you
I aspire to be like you