[Verse 1]
Well I lost my heart in Knoxville town to a no-good river rat
Found out pretty early on she was never where she's at
Well the good times rolled 'til the day I told her I was wantin' more
Come to find oh she's the kind that won't tie to the shore
[Chorus]
She took the Tennessee River
She took the Tennessee River
She took the Tennessee River (And down)
Down to Chattanooga (And around)
On and to Paducah ([?])
Then the Ohio through to catch thе Mississippi
And ride it down to New Orleans
[Verse 2]
Hеard she was seen in a honkytonk right about the Georgia line
So I laid out on the southern route, but couldn't get there in time
Talked to a man in Alabam, he gave me a little hope
He said, "I know the one, but I'm sorry, son; you just missed the boat."
[Chorus]
She took the Tennessee River
She took the Tennessee River
She took the Tennessee River (And down)
Down to Chattanooga (And around)
On and to Paducah ([?])
Then the Ohio through to catch the Mississippi
And then ride it down to New Orleans
[Verse 3]
Now I made it to Kentucky, boys; I feel like I could die
As from where I stand, I can see her hand wavin' me goodbye
She's on the deck of a big sternwheeler, stacks are blowin' coal
I won't give in if I have to swim to the Gulf of Mexico
[Chorus]
She took the Tennessee River
She took the Tennessee River
She took the Tennessee River (And down)
Down to Chattanooga (And around)
On and to Paducah ([?])
Then the Ohio through to catch the Mississippi
And ride it down to New Orleans
[Outro]
To catch the Mississippi
And ride it down to New Orleans