E
I was just the age of sixteen when I first went on the drive,
       A                         E            B
After six months hard labor, at home I did arrive.
   A                                 E               C#m
I courted with a pretty girl, t'was her caused me to roam ,
    E                 C#m           Abm           C#m
Now I'm just a river driver and I'm far away from home.

     E
I'll eat when I am hungry and I'll drink when I am dry,
     A                             E           B
Get drunk whenever I'm ready, get sober by and by,
    A                                   E                 B
And if this river don't drown me, it's down I'll mean to roam ,
     E            A            C#m            E
For 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.