Boat's up the river, she won't come down
I believe it in my soul that she is water-bound
Back her, slack her, bring her round
And give me time to lay me down

I'm rolling, flowing, around these hills
I must take a rest, but this river never will
Rolling, flowing, to Cairo Town
Just give me time to lay me down

Come, Rosianna, the boat's lying low
On a sandy bar, out in the Ohio
Roustabouts are pulling, they're pulling mighty slow
To give me time to lay me down

I'm rolling, flowing, around these hills
I must take a rest, but this river never will
Rolling, flowing, to Cairo Town
Just give me time to lay me down

I work these steamboats. a dollar bill a day
Buy a dress for Rosianna and drink the rest away
Captain, he just told me to call lead line today
Lord, I get no time to lay me down

I'm rolling, flowing, around these hills
I must take a rest, but this river never will
Rolling, flowing, to Cairo Town
Just give me time to lay me down

All of the rich folks out on the promenade
They twirl their parasols and sip their lemonade
I got hot steam to drink and smokestack for shade
And I got no time to lay me down

I'm rolling, flowing, around these hills
I must take a rest, but this river never will
Rolling, flowing, to Cairo Town
Just give me time to lay me down

I load all of this freight by bale and by sack
I slow coonjine the plank and I fast coonjine it back
Hundred eighty pounds a bale, hundred ninety pounds a sack
Two hundred pounds and break your back

I'm rolling, flowing, around these hills
I must take a rest, but this river never will
Rolling, flowing, to Cairo Town
Just give me time to lay me down