Over the River and Through the Woods

The well-known author Lydia Maria Child's lyrics depict her early recollections of spending Thanksgiving Day at her grandfather's house. Today, we frequently sing, "Over the River and Through the Woods to grandmother's house we go," yet the phrase originally referred to the grandfather.

Behind the Story of Over the River and Through the Woods Song 

Lydia Maria Child wrote the well-known children's song Over the River and Through the Woods as a poem for Thanksgiving. The song's lyrics frequently invoke the concept of cold. Early 19th-century winters in New England were colder and arrived sooner than they do now. The New England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day was the poem's original title. She recalls going to her grandfather's house in the poem. The poem was first published in 1844 in Child's collection Flowers for Children in volume two. Lydia Childs was Novelist, journalist, writer, teacher, and journalist. She wrote a lot about the necessity of eradicating slavery. She also pioneered every literary genre of the 19th century and was one of the first American women to earn a career from her writing.

The American Frugal Housewife, a series of popular home advice books, was written by her. She also created an early American children's magazine and other well-known advice books. Her grandpa's house is still standing and may be seen in Medford, Massachusetts, close to the Mystic River. The forest is, regrettably, no longer there.

The song used to set the poetry to music at some point has no recognised author or source.

Over the River Through the Wood

Over the River and Through the Woods Lyrics

Over the river and through the woods,

To grandfather’s* house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,

Through the white and drifted snow, oh!

Over the river and thru the woods,

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes and bites the nose,

As over the ground, we go.

Over the river and thru the wood,

To have a first-rate play;

Oh, hear the bell ring, “Ting-a-ling-ling!”

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!

Over the river and thru the woods,

Trot fast, my dapple grey!

Spring over the ground like a hunting hound,

For this is Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river and through the woods,

And straight through the barnyard gate.

We seem to go extremely slowly,

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the woods,

Now, Grandmother’s cap, I spy!

Hurrah for fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Conclusion

Warmth abounds in Over the River and Through the Woods. It is a heartfelt, joyously amusing, and affecting story about connections between generations, intense parental love, and the inevitable tiny heartbreaks that happen as kids age.

Do It Yourself

1. Who is the composer of the "Over the River and Through the Woods" song?

2. The poem was first published in _____.

1. 1844.

2. 1900.

3. 1944.

4. None of these

Sample Questions

1.  "Over the River and Through the Woods" is ________.

1. Christmas Carol.

2. Thanksgiving carol.

Ans: Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day! rather than "Hurrah for Christmas Day!" is what the original words of the song "Over the River and Through the Wood" state when it is traditionally sung as a Thanksgiving song.

Hence, the correct option is (B) Thanksgiving carol.

2. What does "over the river and through the woods, to grandfather's house " mean?

Ans: It acknowledges the artist's early experiences going to her grandfather's residence (said to be the Paul Curtis House). Novelist, writer, teacher, and poet Lydia Maria Child wrote extensively about the need to end slavery. Eventually, a song was written for the text by an unidentified musician.