Big Boat Up the River

Big boat on the river hauling seven ton

Coming up from Natchez on the Memphis run

Paddle wheel a slipping and the keel done cracked

Mean old Mississippi trying to hold me back

Won't somebody tell my woman

Somebody tell my woman

Somebody tell my woman

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Captain told the stokers, well, pack her tight

Got to get to Memphis by tomorrow night

Coming off the delta, well the far done sat

Captain, lord, captain, tell me, where we at?

Somebody tell my woman

Somebody tell my woman

Somebody tell my woman

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat, I'm coming in the pitch black night

That Mississippi fog that hits the pilot's light

Gauging, Mr. Gauger what's that rumbling sound

Sandbank dead ahead and we done run aground

Somebody tell my woman

Somebody tell my woman

Somebody tell my woman

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

My woman say she loves me and I know it's true

But I done done something that you just don't do

Stayed away from home too long and now I see

Some Natchez man is trying to take my gal from me

He's messing 'round with my woman

Messing 'round with my woman

He's messing 'round with my woman

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

When I get off this wheeler, gonna stay on land

Gonna take my little woman, well-a, by the hand

Build me a cabin on a high old hill

Get me a rocking-chair and sit right still

But some quiet night when the wind will shift

The sounds from the river will begin to drift

Some lonely rambler with a tearful eye

Will touch my heart with his mournful cry

Somebody tell my woman

Somebody tell my woman

Somebody tell my woman

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't come down

Big boat up the river and it won't, won't come down