作曲 : Daniel Decatur Emmett/c.1840
 High row the boatmen row,
 Floatin’ down the river in a big bateau,
 The boatmen dance, the boatmen sing,
 The boatmen up to ev’rything,
 When the boatman gets on shore
 He spends his money and works for more.
 Then dance the boatmen dance,
 O dance the boatmen dance.
 O dance all night ’til broad daylight,
 And go home with the gals in the mornin’.
 High row the boatmen row,
 Floatin’ down the river in a big bateau,
 De oyster boat should keep to de shore,
 De fishin’ smack should venture more.
 De schooner sails before de wind,
 De steamboat leaves a streak behind.
 Then dance the boatmen dance,
 O dance the boatmen dance.
 O dance all night ’til broad daylight,
 And go home with the gals in the mornin’.
 High row the boatmen row,
 Floatin’ down the river in a big bateau,
 I went on board de odder day
 Just to see what de boatman had to say;
 An dar I let my passion loose
 An’ dey kept me in de calaboose.
 Then dance the boatmen dance,
 O dance the boatmen dance.
 O dance all night ’til broad daylight,
 And go home with the gals in the mornin’.
 High row the boatmen row,
 Floatin’ down the river in a big bateau,
 I’ve come dis time, I’ll come no more,
 Let me loose, I’ll go ashore;
 For dey whole hoss, an’ dey a bully crew
 Wid a hoosier mate an’ a captain too.
 Then dance the boatmen dance,
 O dance the boatmen dance.
 O dance all night ’til broad daylight,
 And go home with the gals in the mornin’.
 High row the boatmen row,
 Floatin’ down the river in a big bateau,
 When you go to de boatman’s ball,
 Dance wid my wife or not at all;
 Sky-blue jacket an’ tarpaulin hat,
 Look out, my boys, for de nine tail cat.
 Then dance the boatmen dance,
 O dance the boatmen dance.
 O dance all night ’til broad daylight,
 And go home with the gals in the mornin’.
 High row the boatmen row,
 Floatin’ down the river in a big bateau,
 De boatman is athrifty man
 Da is none can do as de boatman can ;
 I neber see a pretty girl in all my life
 But dat she be some boatman’s wife.
 Then dance the boatmen dance,
 O dance the boatmen dance.
 O dance all night ’til broad daylight,
 And go home with the gals in the mornin’.
 High row the boatmen row,
 Floatin’ down the river in a big bateau,
 When de boatman blows his horn,
 Look out, my boy, your sheep is gone;
 He stole my sheep, he stole my shoat,
 Den put ’em in bag and tote ’em to boat.
 Then dance the boatmen dance,
 O dance the boatmen dance.
 O dance all night ’til broad daylight,
 And go home with the gals in the mornin’.
 High row the boatmen row,
 Floatin’ down the river in a big bateau,