EI (022100@1)was just the age of sixteen when I first went on the drive,
       A (x02220@1)                        E (022100@1)          BAfter (x2444x@1)six months hard labour, at home I did arrive.
   A (x02220@1)                               E (022100@1)             C#mI (x13321@4)courted with a pretty girl, t'was her caused me to roam,
    E (022100@1)               C#m (x13321@4)         Abm (133111@4)         C#mNow (x13321@4)I'm just a river driver and I'm far away from home.

EI'll (022100@1)eat when I am hungry and I'll drink when I am dry,
     A (x02220@1)                           E (022100@1)         BGet (x2444x@1)drunk whenever I'm ready, get sober by and by,
    A (x02220@1)                                 E (022100@1)               BAnd (x2444x@1)if this river don't drown me, it's down I'll mean to roam,
     E (022100@1)          A (x02220@1)          C#m (x13321@4)          EFor (022100@1)I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home.

I'll build a lonesome castle upon some mountain high,
Where she can sit and view me as I go passing by
Where she can sit and view me as I go marching on, 
For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home.

I'll eat when I am hungry and I'll drink when I am dry,
Get drunk whenever I'm ready, get sober by and by,
And if this river don't drown me, it's down I'll mean to roam,
For I'm a river driver and I'm far away from home.