Pull On the Oars
This song is the English version of the original French Canadian song C'est l'aviron.
This is a Voyageur Song. The Voyageurs were French-Canadian indentured servants who were involved in the fur trade, transporting fur by canoe.
Pull On the Oars
Voyageur Song
Riding along the road to Rochelle City,
Riding along the road to Rochelle City,
I met three girls, and all of them were pretty.
(Chorus)
Pull on the oars as we glide along together,
Pull on the oars as we glide along.
By chance I chose the one who was the beauty,
By chance I chose the one who was the beauty,
Lifted her up so she could ride beside me.
(Chorus)
With never a word we rode along together,
With never a word we rode along together,
After a while, she said, "I'd like a drink, sir."
(Chorus)
Quickly I found a spring from out the mountain,
Quickly I found a spring from out the mountain,
But she'd not drink the water from the fountain.
(Chorus)
On then we went to find her home and father,
On then we went to find her home and father,
When we got there, she drank… but not of water.
(Chorus)
Many a toast she drank to her dear mother,
Many a toast she drank to her dear mother,
Toasted again her sister and her brother.
(Chorus)
When she had drunk to sister and to brother,
When she had drunk to sister and to brother,
Turning to me, she toasted her own lover.
(Chorus)
