I just heard the awful news 

I could steer around the rocks 

But theyre bustin down the docks 



James river blues 

That train came on through 

And the worlds gotten slow 

So wheres a boat man to go 



I think Ill float on down 

To Richmond town 

They dont need us anymore 

hauling freight from shore to shore 

That big iron hauls much more 

than we ever could before 



Ive see good men going wrong 

Ive seen bad ones get it right 

As that river rolls along 

Ill be steppin out tonight 



On the cool flow 

floatin down down below 

the bridge till the waters edge 

From the ridge to the ledge 

From the hills to the sea 

Ill become a memory 

James River blues 

James River blues 

James River blues