Archive for July, 1998



Pushboat


h1 Wednesday, July 1st, 1998

Pushboat.gif

This Mississippi River song speaks of the hard life spent by the boatmen who piloted pushboats. These narrow craft traveled downstream, being steered by a long pole, pushed against the bank. This was a very labor intensive occupation. There were long hours of slow going, and songs like this made the time seem to pass a little more quickly.
Lyrics:
G
Working on a push boat
G
From Cattletsburg to Pike,
Am C
I'm working on a push boat,
Em C
For Old Man Jeffery's Ike. X2

Working on a push boat
For fifty cents a day;
Buy a dress for Cynthie Jane,
And throw the rest away. X2

Working on a push boat,
Water's mighty slack;
Taking sorghum 'lasses down
And bringing sugar back. X2

Going down Big Sandy
With Pete and Lazy Sam;
When I get to Cattletsburg,
I'll buy myself a dram. X2

I wish I had a nickel,
I wish I had a dime;
I'd spend it all on Cynthie Jane
And dress her mighty fine. X2

The weather's mighty hot, boys,
Blisters on my feet;
Working on a push boat
To buy my bread and meat. X2

Working on a push boat,
Working in the rain;
When I get to Cattletsburg,
Hello, Cynthie Jane! X2

© McGuinn Music 1998 Roger McGuinn