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 G#m 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 .