Lyrics
(American folk song)
The river is up and the channel is deep,
The wind is steady and strong.
Oh won’t we have a jolly good time as we go sailing along.
Down the river, oh down the river, oh down the river we go.
Down the river, oh down the river, oh down the Ohio.
Dance / Play Party
Formation: Students stand in two lines facing each other.
- step in four steps, out four steps, clap twice (at end of phrase)
- cross right shoulder and change sides, clap twice (end of phrase)
- first couple sashays down the alley, others clap on beat
- second-couple sashays down the alley
Variation: first couple goes down the alley in the method they wish (crawl, walk backwards, skip, etc.) Second couple must copy.
See also
- songs from the Midwestern States (US)
- songs about water
- recorder DEF#GAB songs
- songs with countermelodies / ostinati
- recorder GABD’ songs
- songs with Orff arrangements
- movement / dance songs
- songs in 6/8
- songs with I IV V chords
- more lyrics
- dance steps
- source: Handy Play Party Book, Lynn Rohrbough, Co-operative Recreational Service, 1940
YouTube
 (or available for purchase here)
- Printable & Digital Visuals
- Song with chords, Orff arrangement, Recorder Countermelody – notes G,A,B,D’, Rhythm ostinati (PDF)
- MIDI file
- Listen to the song
4 thoughts on “Down the River / Down the Ohio”
My second-graders LOVED this dance! We did it for weeks and they never seemed to get tired of it. Do you have a suggestion for something similar that they might enjoy?
I remembered singing this in kindergarten 60 years ago.
Hey there, I just did some research on this song. It was composed by E.P. Christy, who owned a minstrel company and theatre. Here an image of the published piece housed in the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/resource/sm1854.790530.0/?sp=1&r=-0.088,0.212,1.31,0.867,0
Very interesting! This seems like a very different version. Thanks for sharing!