The day the river freezes is the day it won't seem fair
Cos 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 the banks that old horn's sounding
A little good-bye, a little I'll do what I must do
A little good-bye, 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
Cos she's won so many battles that I hate to see her lose

Water turns cold ...

Water turns cold ...