The song was introduced in the Broadway musical, Guys and Dolls, which opened at the 46th Street Theatre on November 24, 1950.
In the context of the show, gambler Nicely-Nicely Johnson invents a dream about being saved from hell in order to bring together the members of the prayer meeting.
It was performed on stage by Stubby Kaye[1] who later reprised his role as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 1953 London production, as well as the 1955 film version of the play.
[2] "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" was performed in the pilot episode of the show Glee in 2009, and then redone in the season 3 finale, "Goodbye," although it was never released as a single or on any album.
[8] The 1979 novel And the Devil Will Drag You Under by Jack Chalker takes its title from a line in "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat.