mister and mississippi

i can't recall my mother

i don't remember dad

mister and mississippi

was all i ever had

oh

i was born to wander

oh

i was born to roam

and mister and mississippi

made me feel at home

oh

i was born to wander

oh

i was born to roam

and mister and mississippi

made me feel at home

my cradle was the river

my school a river boat

my teacher was a gambler

the slickest one afloat

he taught me not to gamble

on a petticoat

my teacher was a gambler

the slickest one afloat

oh

i was born to wander

oh

i was born to roam

and mister and mississippi

made me feel at home

oh betty mae

i love you

i love you

betty mae

i love you like a barefoot boy loves a summer day

the way a wand'ring gypsy loves the changing scenes

just like the restless river loves old new orleans

oh

i was born to wander.