Michael, Row the Boat Ashore

From Wikipedia:

“Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” (also called “Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore”, “Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore”, or “Michael, Row That Gospel Boat”) is a traditional spiritual first noted during the American Civil War at St. Helena Island, one of the Sea Islands of South Carolina. The best-known recording was released in 1960 by the U.S. folk band The Highwaymen; that version briefly reached number-one hit status as a single. […]

In 1961, Lonnie Donegan recorded a cover version of “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” that reached #6 in the UK Singles Chart.

On January 24, 1969, during the Beatles’ “Get Back” sessions, Paul McCartney played a brief version of “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore“:

Still in a skiffle mood, Paul begins to sing “Michael, Row The Boat,” though the backing still has “Two Of Us” overtones to it. Lonnie Donegan covered this traditional spiritual in 1961, but Paul can’t remember more than the title, and mumbles his way through the forgotten verses. Spurred again by John’s slide playing, Paul then vocalizes a few lines of the traditional lullaby “Rock-a-Bye Baby” as “Michael, Row The Boat” concludes, then breaks into Guy Mitchell’s 1956 hit “Singing The Blues.”

From “Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image – The Complete, Unauthorized Story of The Beatles’ ‘Get Back’ Sessions” by Doug Sulpy

Bootlegs

Cover versions played during the "Get Back" sessions

"Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" was covered during The Beatles' "Get Back" sessions in January 1969. Here is the complete list of covers recorded by Paul McCartney, either alone or with other Beatles, during these sessions:

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