From the production “Maid In America”, 1915
Words by Bert Kalmer
Music by Joe Cooper
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Half past four, Dan McGraw
Came sneaking to his wifey’s door
She’d been waiting up all night,
Waiting for him to go to bed
Danny smiled like a child
But his wifey grew very wild
“Where have you been all night long” she cried
And this is what Danny replied
Chorus:
I’ve been floating down the old green river
On the good ship Rock and Rye
But I floated too far, I got stuck on a bar
I was out there alone, wishing that I was home
The ship got wrecked with the captain and crew
And there was only one thing left to do
So I had to drink the whole green river dry
To get back home to you
- Danny’s frau raised a row
Said, “I’ll go home to mother now”
Danny said, “That’s some idea
Better then bringing mother here”
At the door, there she saw
Her pa and ma and several more
Dad was explaining when he came in
Telling ma where he had been
Chorus:
I’ve been floating down the old green river
On the good ship Rock and Rye
But I floated too far, I got stuck on a bar
I was tied to the mast while the schooners went past
The ship got wrecked with the captain and crew
And there was only one thing left to do
So I had to drink the whole green river dry
To get back home to you