I must go down on the levee again With the muddy river and sky All ask for is a stern-wheel boat And some horns to steer her by Bow your wheels, keep an eye on the roof Pilot house window a shaking Full moon, Missouri sky Foggy morning a breaking I must go down on the levee again When river is up, and shes wide Hear that lonesome whistle A call that cannot be denied Step on board some southbound boat Sail all the way to the sea At home on the muddy river Is where I want to be Must get a job on the River again Where the river runs good and wide Clean the stairs, move the chairs Sleep up on the deck sometimes Stories heard on the lazy bench How big the search lights are Carrying coffee up to the old man Stumblin' in the dark Here's to you old real steamboat With double-swinging stages Compound condensing engines Real old funny looking gauges May your wheels be free of driftwood May you never run a-ground May all your winds, be tail winds And may all your trips be down