Down the Mississippi came the Whippoorwill
Commanded by her captain
Mr Steamboat Bill
Billy gave his orders on the strict QT
To try to beat the
Record of the Robert E Lee
Just speed up your fire
Let the old smoke roll
Burn up all your cargo
If you run out of coal
If we don't beat that record
Billy told the mate
Then the Maiden Care'll beat us
To the Golden Gate
Steamboat Bill
Steaming down the Mississippi
Steamboat Bill
A mighty man was he
Steamboat Bill
Steaming down the Mississippi
Gonna beat the record of the Robert E Lee
Up stepped a gambling
Man from Louisville
Tried to get a bet
Against the Whippoorwill
Billy clasped the roll
And surely was some bear
The boiler it exploded
Blew them up in the air
The gambler said to Billy
As they left the wreck
I don't know where we're going
But we're neck and neck
Said Billy to the gambler
Tell you what I'll do
I'll bet another thous
And I'll go higher than you
Steamboat Bill
He tore up the Mississippi
Steamboat Bill
The pilot made him swear
Steamboat Bill
He tore up the Mississippi
An explosion of the boiler
Put him up in the air
The river's all in mourning
Now for Steamboat Bill
No more you'll hear
The popping of the Whippoorwill
There's crepe on every steamboat
That plows the stream
From Memphis right to Natchez
Down to New Orleans
The wife of Mister William
Was at home in bed
When she got the telegram
That Steamboat's dead
Said she to the children
Blessed Honey Lambs
The next papa that
You have'll be a railroad man
Steamboat Bill
Missing 'long the Mississippi
Steamboat Bill is
With an angel band
Steamboat Bill
Missing 'long the Mississippi
He's a fireman on a ferry
In the Promised Land
