CANOE SONG, THE

from 1935 film "Sanders Of The River" sung by Paul Robeson
(Micha Spoliansky (m) Arthur Wimperis (l) 1935)

Paul Robeson & Chorus
with orchestra conducted by Muir Matheson



(Ayee oko, ayoko.  Ayee oko, ayoko)

Ayee oko, ayege der,
Ayee oko, ayege der,
Ayee oko, ayee oko, ayee oko.

Ayee oko, ayege der,
Ayee oko, ayege der,
The current swings,
The water sings
A river rhyme.

For light is a burden of labour
When each bends his back with his neighbour.

So each for all,
We stand or fall,
And all for each
Until we reach
The journey's end.

(Ayee oko, ayee oko, ayee oko, ayee oko, ayee oko)

Sandy the strong,
Sandy the wise,
Righter of wrong,
Hater of lies!
Laughed as he fought,
Worked as he played,
As he had taught
Let it be made!

Away you go, ayega der,
And make it so, ayega der.
Together all
The paddles fall
In tune and time.

So look alive, ayega der,
And dip and drive, ayega der.
The current swings,
The water sings
A river rhyme.

For light is a burden of labour
When each bends his back with his neighbour.

So each for all,
We stand or fall,
And all for each
Until we reach
The journey's end.
Oh-oh, oh-oh,
Oh-oh, oh-oh,
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh.




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - August 2018)