“I'm Working My Way Back Home”

Description

If "the boat keep steppin'" and his back doesn't give out, the singer will get back to his woman in Memphis. "All that I crave fo' many a long day Is yo' lovin' when I git back." He urges the fireman to make speed, and describes the route the boat follows

Supplemental text

I'm Working My Way Back Home
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

I'm Wukin' My Way Back Home

From Mary Wheeler, Steamboatin' Days, pp. 13-14. No source indicated.
B. A. Botkin, reprints the item verbatim in A Treasury of
Mississippi River Folklore, pp. 575-576.

  Chorus:
    I'm wukin' my way back home,
    I'm wukin' my way back home,
    I'm wukin' my way back home,
    Baby, I'm wukin' my way back home.

Timber don't git too heavy fo; me,
An; sacks too heavy to stack,
All that I crave fo' many a long day,
Is yo' lovin' when I git back.

Oh fireman, keep her rollin' fo' me,
Let's make it to Memphis, Tennessee,
Fo' my back is gittin' tired,
An' my shoulder is gittin' sore.

Down in the Mississippi to the Gulf uv Mexico,
Down below Natchez,
But ef the boat keep steppin'
I'll be seein' you soon.

Now Paducah's layin' roun' the ben',
Now Paducah's layin' roun' the ben',
Captain, don't whistle, jes' ring yo' bell,
Fo' my woman'll be standin' right there.

References

1. MWheeler, pp. 13-14, "I'm Wukin' My Way Back Home" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Botkin-MRFolklr, p. 575, "I'm Wukin' My Way Back Home" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. ST BMRF575 (Full)
4. Roud #9991
5. BI, BMRF575