Ride That River

Verse 1
Got forty-five cords on a cedar raft
And the river’s rising six feet fast
The sawyer yelled from the muddy bank
"You better ride that timber or your soul gets sank!"
Got a pocket full of copper and a bottle of gin
Five miles of rapids till the bend comes in
Call me a fool or a river rat
I got my boots locked down where the saw-logs at
​[Chorus]
Ride that river, roll that pine!
Outrun the water down the county line!
The banjo’s picking like a runaway train
Fiddle howling through the driving rain
Push that timber, don't look back
We’re making money on a crooked track!
​[Verse 2]
There’s a high-water surge coming off the crest
Ain't a man on the river getting any rest
Old Dan caught an oak log under his knee
Went under in the foam where the deep waters be
So I grabbed that pike-pole, hauled him high
Told him, "Boy, today ain't the day to die!"
We hit the white water roaring loud
Shouting at the thunder in a storm-dark cloud
​[Chorus]
Ride that river, roll that pine!
Outrun the water down the county line!
The banjo’s picking like a runaway train
Fiddle howling through the driving rain
Push that timber, don't look back
We’re making money on a crooked track!
​[Instrumental Break]
[Fast lightning banjo solos, screaming twin fiddles duel, heavy bass slap, fast pounding rhythm]
​[Bridge]
Now the sawmill smoke is burning clear
And the town saloon is getting near
If the timber holds and the rope don't snap
We’ll drink our pay in a logger's cap!
​[Chorus]
Ride that river, roll that pine!
Outrun the water down the county line!
The banjo’s picking like a runaway train
Fiddle howling through the driving rain
Push that timber, don't look back
We’re making money on a crooked track!
​[Outro]
Yeah, push that timber!
Break that logjam, boys!
[High-speed fiddle flourish with a final hard banjo pluck]