Gonna pick up some of them empties here
Just as soon as we know where they lay
Tied off of them jolly and leaving lines
On a long hot summer day

For every day I work on the Illinois river
Get a half a day off with pay
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day

Well, I got me a gal in Peking
She's a good ol' gal okay
I bet she's sitting a window fan
On a long hot summer day

For every day I work on the Illinois river
Get a half a day off with pay
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day

Last night we had pork for supper
Today it'll be chicken consomme
And a fruit jar full of iced tea
On a long hot summer day

For every day I work on the Illinois river
Get a half a day off with pay
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day
Well, we put a man off in Beardstown
When we come down yesterday
I'm gonna off down at Alton
On a long hot summer day

For every day I work on the Illinois river
Get a half a day off with pay
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day