Hudson River steamboat, steaming up and down
New York to Albany or any river town
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to slacker
Captain and the first mate, they both chew tobacker

Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo the Slacker
Packetboat, towboat, and a double-stacker
Choo-choo to Tarrytown, Spuyten Duyvil all around
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back'er

Shad boat, pickle boat, lying side by side
Fisherboat, sailormen waiting for the tide
Raincloud, stormcloud over yonder hill
Thunder on the Dunderberg, the rumble's in the kill

Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo the Slacker
Packetboat, towboat, and a double-stacker
Choo-choo to Tarrytown, Spuyten Duyvil all around
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back'er

Well, the Sedgwick was racing and she lost all hope
Used up all her steam on the big calliope
But she hop right along, she was hopping very quick
All the way from Stony Point to Popalopen Creek

Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo the Slacker
Packetboat, towboat, and a double-stacker
New York to Albany, Rondout and Tivoli
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back 'er

Well, Hudson River steamboat, steaming up and down
New York to Albany or any river town
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to slacker
Captain and the first mate, they both chew tobacker

Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo the Slacker
Packetboat, towboat, and a double-stacker
Choo-choo to Tarrytown, Spuyten Duyvil all around
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back'er