Hudson
River steamboat, steamin' up and down.
New York to
Albany or any
river town.
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back 'er.
Captain and the
first mate, they both chew tobacker.
chorus:
Oh, choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back 'er.
Packet boat, towboat, and a double-stacker.
Choo-choo to Tarrytown, Spuyten Duyvil all around.
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back 'er.
Shad boat, pickle boat, lyin' side by side.
Fisherfolk and sailormen waitin' for the tide.
Raincloud, stormcloud over yonder hill.
Thunder on the Dunderberg -- the rumble's in the kill.
The Sedgwick was racin', and she lost all hope.
Used up her steam on the big calliope.
She was hoppin' right along, she was hoppin' quick,
All the way from Stony Point to Popalopen Creek.
(final chorus):
Aww, choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back 'er.
Packet boat, towboat, and a double-stacker.
New York to Albany, Rondout and Tivoli.
Choo-choo to go ahead, choo-choo to back 'er.
(Sea shanty -- original author unknown)