Oh, Roberta tell me how long, how long
Oh, Roberta tell me how long, how long
Are you gonna keep me down here, baby
Singing this same ol' song

I'm down on the river
Sitting down on the ground
I'm down on the river
Sitting down on the ground
I'm gonna stay right here
Until that steamboat come down

Way up the river
Just as far as I can see
Way up the river
Just as far as I can see
I thought I spied my old time used to be

She's a brown-skinned woman
And she got long, black wavy hair
She's a brown-skinned woman
And she got long, black wavy hair
That woman looks so good, baby
She can lead me most anywhere

I'm going to the station, talk to that chief of police
(what you gonna tell him?)
I'm going to the station, talk to that chief of police
Tell him that Roberta done quit me
I can't see no peace
Oh, Roberta, don't you hear me callin' you?
Oh, Roberta, you hear me callin' you?
I got just one more thing, baby
I want you to do