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 ships gone away Water turns cold and gets ta freezin’ Before you even know it the old girl’s easin’ Away from her berth round by the point And out of our view Off in the mist her engine’s poundin’ Like on the banks that old horn’s soundin’ 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 ta freezin’ Before you even know it the old girl’s easin’ Away from her berth round by the point And out of our view 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 ta freezin’ Before you even know it the old girl’s easin’ Away from her berth round by the point And out of our view Off in the mist her engine’s poundin’ Like on the banks that old horn’s soundin’ A little goodbye a little I’ll do what I must do A little goodbye a little I’ll do what I must do