Mornin' comes with cloudy skies and rain
My poor back is broke with pain
My man's sleepin', eyes a-rubbin'
Chillen weepin', clothes a-tubbin'
Pain's a-creepin', I's a-drubbin' all day long

Up to the washin' soap, down to the water once more
Head down low, head low
Up to the washin' soap, down to the water once more
Poor hands go

So weary of scrubbin', days dreary
So weary of tubbin' them clothes
Up to the washin' soap and down to the water once more
Washboard blues

Never get me gone from here
Scrubbin' dirty clothes all year
It's them clothes
Them raggedy clothes
Them mussety clothes
Them dirty clothes
That's all I knows
Up and down, back and forth, all year long
Oh Lordy, won't you hear my song, hear my song?
Washin' in a shanty on the shore
The river swingin' on by the door
Hear that river, lowly callin'
I's a-shiver, night's a-fallin'
Hear that river lowly moanin', moanin' low

Goin' to the river, goin' down to the river some day
Hurry day, hurry, hurry
Goin' to the river, goin' down to the river some day
Throw myself, self away

Goin' to the river, goin' down to the river some day
Hurry day
Hurry day
Hurry day
Hurry