Michael did what?

I am pretty sure that everyone has either heard or sang this song at one point in their life:

Michael rowed the boat ashore.
Hallelujah.
Michael rowed the boat ashore.
Hallelujah.

Sister helped to trim the sail.
Hallelujah.
Sister helped to trim the sail.
Hallelujah.

The River Jordan is deep and wide.
Hallelujah.
Milk and honey on the other side.
Hallelujah.

The River Jordan is chilly and cold.
Hallelujah.
Chills the body but not the soul.
Hallelujah.

Michael rowed the boat ashore.
Hallelujah.
Michael rowed the boat ashore.
Hallelujah

What does this song mean? Of course I could try looking it up online but of course one receives different answers, but what do you all think it means? And why did we sing it? I mean, what was so spectacular that Michael rowed the boat ashore and Sister helped to trim the sail? Why doesn't Sister have a name? I mean, we don't sing "Brother rowed the boat ashore."

I would apologize for the weird post, but one day after walking for an hour and shopping for the next two, my roommate and I were riding home in a cab when the song hit me. Now if anyone knows me, you know that I get extremely giddy after doing physical activity and especially after shopping so I started cracking up in the cab because I couldn't figure out why I used to sing that. I remember singing it at a Bible camp or probably at my old church when I was a little tyke but I can't explain why...lol. I mean the River Jordan and Milk and Honey does have Bible significance, but what about Michael and his Sister? I mean, you can find this song on various religious cds and it is sang in some churches still to this day, which I find odd because there isn't a set explanation of the song.

Could this be an encrypted song perhaps created during a war to give soldiers hope that they were receiving help by the sea? Or was it a song that someone made up back in the day and it just caught on? This cat has an interesting opinion about the song http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmichaelrow.html

Perhaps I'm curious about this song because I'm bored...I don't know why. All I do know is it popped into my head and in order to get it out of my head, I must commit my thoughts to paper...or computer just to clear my head.

So there you go.

Until next time readers,


Love, Peace, and Hair Grease!