This ol' riverboat walkin up the river Keep her steady as you go Heave the lead and pay the line Now we're markin' on the twine Four fathoms below Way up the river we go. This ol' riverboat walkin' by the levee Keep her steady as you go Think I hear the captain say, Full ahead we're on our way Three fathoms below Way up the river we go. Keep on a-movin' gotta beat ol' Dixie Or we'll come back empty I know Way down the river I can hear her whistle blow. This ol' riverboat churnin' muddy water Ease er' down and take it slow Can't you hear that rumblin' sound Lord, I think we've run aground No fathoms below You'd better pray it ain't so. We're muckin' bottom, and here comes ol' Dixie Singin' who's got that cotton to sell? Ah, but when she's passin' We're risin' high on her swell. We're on the move again. These two riverboats, racin' up the river, Then ol' Dixie runs aground There she stands high and dry, And we're walkin' right on by I can see the lights of town We're gonna roll that cotton down This ol' riverboat seen a lot of water Lot of cotton, you can bet. You can ask anyone you meet, They say she can't be beat. She ain't never been yet. Can't you hear that whistle blow. Way up the river we go. Walkin' up the river we go Up and down the river we go.