Well, I spent the better part of my life
On a Mississippi riverboat
I used to be known from coast to coast
As the slickest gambler afloat
I dealt the cards from Minnesota
To the harbor in New Orleans
I made a lot of big money on a riverboat
I lived a lot of pretty riverboat queens
Riverboat, riverboat
I love your whistle sway
I wish I was back on the riverboat
Instead of in a Memphis jail
Oh, a big man got on the riverboat
Our last time in St. Paul
He had a lot of money but his luck
Went down the riverboat
Went bad, the riverboat won it all
He said, I dealt from the bottom of the deck
He pulled a shiny knife
Before that gambler lunged at me
My 44 took his life
Riverboat, riverboat
I love your whistle sway
I wish I was back on the riverboat
Instead of in a Memphis jail
Well, they came on the boat
And they took me to jail
When we got to Tennessee
A gambling man has very few friends
Guess nobody cared for me
So I might be here for many long years
But if I ever get out
I'm gonna head straight for that levee
And get me a riverboat
It's a
Riverboat
Riverboat

Riverboat

Riverboat
Riverboat
I love your whistle sway
I wish I was back on the riverboat
Instead of in a Memphis jail
Instead of in a Memphis jail