Rolling to Cairo Town or Roustabout Song



I'm rolling, flowing, around these hills

I must take a rest, but this river never will

Rolling, flowing, to Cairo Town

Just give me time to lay me down



Boat's up the river, she won't come down

I believe it in my soul, she is water-bound

Back her, slack her, bring her round

Give me time to lay me down



Come, Rosianna, the boat is lying low

On a sandy bar, out in the Ohio

Roustabouts are pulling, pulling mighty slow

To give me time to lay me down



I work these steamboats. a dollar bill a day

I buy a dress for Rosianne, drink the rest away

Captain, he just told me to call lead line today

Lord, I got no time to lay me down



All of the rich folks out on the promenade

Twirl their parasols, drink their lemonade

I got hot steam to drink, I got smokestack for my shade

And I got no time to lay me down



I load all of this freight by bale and by sack

I slow coonjine the plank, I fast coonjine it back

A hundred eighty pounds a bale, a hundred ninety pounds a sack

Two hundred pounds'd break your back



@work @river @Ohio @midwest

collected by Dillon Bustin

filename[ CAIROTON

SF

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