She was a nice girl, you know she had that heart of goldShe was a wise girl, the only school so I'm toldOne on the back side of 61, where the curry ends and the river flowsYesterday bound to come undone, the second they named her Mrs. SabiroseHe was a fine man, you know he had that roseI charmed, and he played a shy manHe hooked a fine girl on his armRipple book gambling was his tradePoker and whiskey fed his soulBut the queen of hearts trumped the ace of spadesAnd he got a glimpse of Mississippi RoseHe was a fine man, you know he had that heartHe was a fine man, you know he had that roseAnd he said, roll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverI mean to have you for my ownRoll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverInto the arms of Mississippi RoseHe courted wildlyDetermined to keep her by his sideShe followed blindlyThinking he'd take her for his brideAfter he'd taken all he wantedHe boarded a southbound riverboatHe never knew what he was doingJust how he hauntedEvery thought of Mississippi RoseAnd he said, roll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverI mean to have you for my ownRoll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverAnd so long, Mississippi RoseShe never weptNever a tear slid down her cheekNever a tear slid down her cheekAnd he didn't betEver again their paths would meetBut out on the deck on a moonless nightThe look in her eyes stopped him coldShot to the heart, sent him over the sideInto the arms of Mississippi RoseAnd she said, roll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverI mean to have you for my ownRoll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverInto the arms of Mississippi RoseYeah, roll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverAnd now for ever and everYou're my ownRoll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverAnd never forget Mississippi RoseShe was a nice girlShe said, roll on, Mississippi RiverI mean to have you for my ownAnd here I amFor you, that I will skies summerRoll on, roll on, Mississippi RiverDuck trotting through theíyou