But I never got the hang of a ratchet bar
I was a -growin up a-deckin in the
Illinois trade with coal dust in my ear
I got stuck in the ice on Christmas Eve
And I froze my ass it's true
Just a shiv'rin and a-shakin with a
Oh Captain Way I'm sorry,
You've been a-hanging out out
With the steamboat whistle blues
Well way up North I called your phone
But I didn't get no one to answer
So I opened up the window
and I smoked a little bit
And I watched the cars go by
I'm gonna hunt you up and ask you
If you found out anything new
Or are you a-hangin to to the
With the steamboat whistle blues
I've been right here since
And believe you me that's true
Just a-lookin at at the water ways churning with the steamboat
Well the city's growing up
where it looks all square
It looks like an electric shaver now
Where the courthouse used to be
The grass is all synthetic
And we don't know for sure
The only thing we know for sure is
them steamboat whistle blues
I'd sit and watch my TV if I thought
About the only thing I trust these days
Is them steamboat whistle blues
Well "far out" Johnny well I
As he stretched out back on
Bluegrass music is a thing of the past
And the same for rock and roll
And I loaned him two or three dollars
And he gave me the latest news
And the steamboat whistle blues
I'll tear off down the river some
Then come back here and see it out
With the steamboat whistle
