Well I'm fishin' in the middle of the Mississippi river
And the water's too muddy to drink
A big catfish chewin' in my little toe
And my baby's waitin' on the bank

Well I tried to make a livin' on the Mississippi river
It's a mighty hard life to live
But I'm gonna build a house for my pretty little baby
And I'm gonna build it on the hill

Don't you know if I'm lucky I catch you catfish
Sell 'em for a dollar bill
Then I buy another board and a pocketful of nails
For the little house on the hill

Well I'm fishin' in the middle of the Mississippi river...

[ fiddle ]
Well my daddy told me that there's sure gonna be
A lotta hard times comin' around
Well I'd rather be fishin' on the Mississippi river
Than a diggin' in a cold cold ground

Well I couldn't make whiskey like all of the others
But my baby would set me free
And I have to go runnin' down the Mississippi river
When the law comes callin' on me

Well I'm fishin' in the middle of the Mississippi river...
Well I'm fishin' in the middle of the Mississippi river...