The New-England Boy’s Song about Thanksgiving Day by Lydia Maria Child

Lydia Maria Child wrote the poem titled “The New-England Boy’s Song about Thanksgiving Day,” in 1845. It is best known for its opening lines “Over the river and through the wood, to grandfather’s house we go.” Her poem gained its lasting popularity in 1874 when her friend, the Quaker abolitionist poet John Greenleaf Whittier, included it in Child Life, an anthology of poetry for children. The first documented performance of the poem in Florida was as a song, right here in Jacksonville, November 1928 at the Florida Theatre.

Over the river and through the wood,

To grandfather’s house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

Through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river and through the wood,

To grandfather’s house away!

We would not stop for doll or top,

For ’tis Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river and through the wood —

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes, and bites the nose

As over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the wood,

With a clear blue winter sky,

The dogs do bark, and children hark,

As we go jingling by.

Over the river and through the wood,

To have a first-rate play.

Hear the bells ring, “Ting-a-ling-ding!”

Hurray for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river and through the wood,

No matter for winds that blow;

Or if we get the sleigh upset,

Into a bank of snow.

Over the river and through the wood,

To see little John and Ann;

We will kiss them all, and play snowball,

And stay as long as we can.

Over the river and through the wood,

Trot fast, my dapple gray!

Spring over the ground like a hunting hound!

For this is Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river and through the wood,

And straight through the barnyard gate.

We seem to go extremely slow —

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the wood,

Old Jowler hears our bells;

He shakes his pow with a loud bow-wow,

And thus the news he tells.

Over the river and through the wood,

When grandmother sees us come,

She will say, “Oh, dear, the children are here,

Bring a pie for every one.”

Over the river and through the wood –

Now grandmother’s cap I spy!

Hurray for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!