We sit cross-legged holding hands with a partner and rock back and forth while we sing this. Before singing the crocodile version, we practice screaming quietly, which is a good voice regulation exercise. Ask your child which verses we have done at school, and please don’t spill the beans about the other versions — I like for everyone to learn new material at the same time whenever possible.
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,
If you see a crocodile, don’t forget to scream.
Row row row your boat, gently down the lake,
Don’t stand up and rock the boat, it’s a big mistake
Row row row your boat, underneath the stream,
Ha, ha, fooled you, I’m a submarine.
Start out fast on this one:
Row row row your boat, gently down the stream,
then get slower and slower:
Putt putt putt putt, we’re out of gasoline.
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,
If you see a crocodile, don’t forget to scream.
Row row row your boat, gently down the lake,
Don’t stand up and rock the boat, it’s a big mistake
Row row row your boat, underneath the stream,
Ha, ha, fooled you, I’m a submarine.
Start out fast on this one:
Row row row your boat, gently down the stream,
then get slower and slower:
Putt putt putt putt, we’re out of gasoline.
And here are a couple that I usually don’t do:
Row row row your boat, gently down the river,
If you jump out of the boat, you will start to shiver.
Row row row your boat gently down the lake,
Merrily merrily merrily merrily, life’s a piece of cake.