Now this is a story about the young man from Natchez Mississippi
Whose father took a steamboat called the Delta Queen to New Orleans
And got killed in a poker game
The young man thought about it for awhile and then decided on revenge
And he said I'm gonna ride that steamboat

That steamboat took my daddy to New Orleans he got killed in a poker game downtown
Steamboat took my daddy to New Orleans some poky cajun gambler shot him down
Daddy rode that steamboat didn't take me along
And I've been sittin' there thinking all day long
And I'm a gonna ride that steamboat take my gun along
I'll get the man that done my daddy wrong

Steamboat took my daddy to New Orleans daddy was pretty good with a deck of cards
He said that he'd get rich in New Ortleans
Cause the game's too good and the cash is pourin' high
But you can win no money when the deck of cards you stack
And the steamboat never brought my daddy back
And I'm a gonna ride...

[ banjo ]
Steamboat took my daddy to New Orleans I know he wanted that money for us kids
Steamboat took my daddy to New Orleans now mama won't forgive the things he did
Daddy rode that steamboat never took mom along
And she's been sittin' there crying all day long
And I'm a gonna ride...
I'll get that man who's done my daddy wrong