Child of the Mississippi

Son of a river man, muddy water's all I've known
 I was born out on the banks, mama died when I was young
 Just before my daddy left, he hollered out at me
 "Son you're a child of the Mississippi"
 My schoolin' was a steamboat, and I was educated well
 On a sternin' double wheeler, where I learned my rebel yell
 Then I started roustaboutin' at the age of thirteen
 Lord, I'm a child of the Mississippi
 I was raised on the river, muddy water gonna carry me home
 She's gonna rock me like a baby rollin' in her sweet lovin' arms
 Just a barefoot boy born in Dixieland
 Brought up on the banks to be a river man
 Sweet child of the Mississippi
 
 I know every stretch of river, I know every railroad bridge
 From up in St. Paul Minnesota, down south to the Memphis pyramid
 Lord, she's proud and she's lonesome, and I've known since I was a kid
 I was a child of the Mississippi
 I was raised on the river, muddy water gonna carry me home
 She's gonna rock me like a baby rollin' in her sweet lovin' arms
 Just a barefoot boy born in Dixieland
 Brought up on the banks to be a river man
 Sweet child of the Mississippi
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 Well I sure miss my mama, and I even miss ol' Pa
 But I love that muddy water most of all
 I was raised on the river, muddy water gonna carry me home
 She's gonna rock me like a baby rollin' in her sweet lovin' arms
 I was a barefoot boy born in Dixieland
 Brought up on the banks to be a river man
 Sweet child of the Mississippi
 Sweet child of the Mississippi
 Sweet child of the Mississippi
 Sweet child of the Mississippi