Well, I'm gonna pick up some of these empties, Lord As soon as I find where they lay Tied off them jolly and leavin' lines On a long hot summer day, yeah For every day I'm workin' on the Illinois River Get a half a day off with pay Old tow boat pickin' up barges On a long hot summer day ♪ Well, I got me a girl in Pekin She's a good old girl, okay Oh, she's sittin' there waitin' by a window fan On a long hot summer day For every day I'm workin' on the Illinois River Get a half a day off with pay Old tow boat pickin' up barges On a long hot summer day ♪ Well, last night we had pork for supper And tomorrow it'll be chicken consommé And a fruit jar full of iced tea On a long hot summer day And for every day I'm workin' on the Illinois River Get a half a day off with pay Old tow boat pickin' up barges On a long hot summer day ♪ Well, we dropped a man off in Beardstown When we got off yesterday Gonna get off down in Alton On a long hot summer day And for every day I'm workin' on the Illinois River Get a half a day off with pay Old tow boat pickin' up barges On a long hot summer day ♪ And for every day I'm workin' on the Illinois River Get a half a day off with pay Old tow boat pickin' up barges On a long hot summer day And for every day I'm workin' on the Illinois River Get a half a day off with pay Old tow boat pickin' up barges On a long hot summer day