[1] Where does an old time [5] river man go
After he's passed aw-[1]-ay
Does his soul still keep a [5] watch on the deep
For the rest of the river [1] days
Does he [4] then come back as a [1] channel cat
Or the [6m] wasps that [5] light on the [1] wheel
Or the birds that fly through a [5] summer sky
Or the fish swimmin' under the [1] keel

Where does an old time pilot go
After he stood his last watch
Does he fall by the ear of the man who steers
Sayin' hold her on that notch
There's a gentle sneeze in the river breeze
Sayin' son I'm goin' to bed
And they light their pipes and go off in the night
Or was that fireflies instead

Where does an old time engineer go
After he's cooled her down
Gone up the hill to never come back
On the quiet side of town
Does his soul live on in the engine's soul
While the striker checks the gears
Is he still afloat on an old steam boat
After he's gone from here