That river will take you to Keokuk just as well
As it'll take you past Eldon straight down to hell
Them boys'd been drinkin', two was real fat
They went out at midnight, goin' after cat

Two could swim sort of, two not at all
They was all plastered, havin' a ball
Well they left from the east side down a' carbide shack
They just went fishin' and never come back

We seen that Jon boat next day in a snag
Called up the men, went out to drag
Found 'em next sundown, Lord, how they stank
We lay them poor boys up on the river bank

Now they was just drunk boys, they didn't know what they did
One of 'em was married, three of 'em had kids
That old river will take you, most of us swore
Next time we got drunk, we'd just fish from shore