I just heard that whistle blow
Gonna go down the river once more
Well, I've got my bag and I'm ready to go
Gonna go down the river once more

Gonna leave St. Louis, go to New Orleans
Eat a little bacon, eat a little beans
Have a good time like I did before
Gonna go down the river once more

Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river once more
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river once more

Gonna load that cotton on the boat by the bale
Gonna go down the river once more
Gonna quit my drinkin', gonna stay out of jail
Gonna go down the river once more

Yeah, my little woman's gonna say goodbye
Wavin' her hand with a tear in her eye
Leave these docks about a quarter to four
Gonna go down the river once more

Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river once more
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river once more

Gonna ride that boat to the glory land
Gonna go down the river once more
Hey, I'll do a little dance with a riverboat band
Gonna go down the river once more

I've got my banjo ready to play
Hey, we'll shout and sing both night and day
I'll make my bed on the riverboat floor
Gonna go down the river once more

Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river once more
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river
Gonna go down the river once more
Gonna go down the river once more