The day the river freezes is the day it won't seem fair
'Cause they'll come to get the river lady and I don't think they'll care
I know they'll scrape her paint off in their same old foolish ways
Now the people see the river but the old ship's gone away

Water turns cold and gets to freezing before you even know it
The old girl's easing away from her berth
Round by the point and out of our view

Off in the mist her engine's pounding
Back on her backs that old horn's sounding
A little goodbye a little I'll do what I must do
A little goodbye a little I'll do what I must do

I know I will remember when I cannot hear that horn
That would roll up by the mountains as she took us through the storm
I know they've got to take her but I can't say I approve
'Cause she's won so many battles that I hate to see her lose

Water turns cold and gets to freezing before you even know it
The old girl's easing away from her birth
Round by the point and out of our view

Off in the mist her engine's pounding
Back on the banks that old horn's sounding
Little goodbye little I'll do what I must do
A little goodbye a little I'll do what I must do

Water turns cold and gets to freezing before you even know it
The old girl's easing away from her berth
Round by the point and out of our view

Off in the mist her engine's pounding
Back on the banks that old horn sounded
A little goodbye a little I'll do what I must do
A little goodbye a little I'll do what I must do

Water turns cold and gets to freezing
Before you even know it the old girl's easing
Away from her birth round by the point and out of our view

Off in the mist her engine's pounding
Back on the banks that old horn sounding
A little goodbye a little I'll do what I must do
A little goodbye a little I'll do what I must do

Water turns cold and gets to freezing
Before you even know it the old girl's easing