Well, my old missus said to me, 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight, 

When she died, gonna set me free 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight 

Oh, come on children, come along, 

While the moon is shining bright, 

Get on the boat, 

Down the river float, 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight 



Well there ain't no use in me working so hard 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight, 

When I've got a woman in the rich folks' yard 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight 



Oh, come on children, come along, 

While the moon is shining bright, 

Get on the boat, 

Down the river float, 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight 



Well, every evening about half past eight 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight, 

I'll hang my bucket on the rich folks' gate 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight 



Oh, come on children, come along, 

While the moon is shining bright, 

Get on the boat, 

Down the river float, 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight 



Well she brings me chicken and she brings me pie 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight, 

I eat some of everything the rich folks buy 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight 



Oh, come on children, come along, 

While the moon is shining bright, 

Get on the boat, 

Down the river float, 

Gonna raise a ruckus tonight. 



(Repeat)