fishin' on the mississippi

well

i'm fishin' in the middle of the mississippi river

and the water's too muddy to drink

big catfish bitin' on the little pole

and my baby's waitin' on the bank

well

you tried to make a livin' on the mississippi river

it's a mighty hard life to live

but i'm gonna build a house for my pretty little baby

and i'm gonna build it on the hill. well

maybe if i'm lucky i'll catch a catfish

and i'll sell 'em for a dollar bill

then i'm gonna buy another board and a pocketful of nails

for my little house on the hill. well

i'm fishin' in the middle of the mississippi river

and the water's too muddy to drink

big catfish bitin' on the little pole

and my baby's waitin' on the bank

my pappy told me there's sure gonna be

a lotta hard times a comin' around

but i'd rather go a fishin' on the mississippi river

than livin' in a cold

cold ground. well

i can't make whiskey like all the others

oh

my baby would set me free

i have to go runnin' down mississippi river

when the law come callin' on me. well

i'm fishin' in the middle of the mississippi river

and the water's too muddy to drink

big catfish bitin' on the little pole

and my baby's waitin' on the bank. well

i'm fishin' in the middle of the mississippi river

and the water's too muddy to drink

big catfish bitin' on the little pole

and my baby's waitin' on the bank