Son of a river man, muddy water's all I've known
I was born out on the banks, mama died when I was young
Just before my daddy left, he hollered out at me
"Son you're a child of the Mississippi"
My schoolin' was a steamboat, and I was educated well
On a sternin' double wheeler, where I learned my rebel yell
Then I started roustaboutin' at the age of thirteen
Lord, I'm a child of the Mississippi
I was raised on the river, muddy water gonna carry me home
She's gonna rock me like a baby rollin' in her sweet lovin' arms
Just a barefoot boy born in Dixieland
Brought up on the banks to be a river man
Sweet child of the Mississippi
I know every stretch of river, I know every railroad bridge
From up in St. Paul Minnesota, down south to the Memphis pyramid
Lord, she's proud and she's lonesome, and I've known since I was a kid
I was a child of the Mississippi
I was raised on the river, muddy water gonna carry me home
She's gonna rock me like a baby rollin' in her sweet lovin' arms
Just a barefoot boy born in Dixieland
Brought up on the banks to be a river man
Sweet child of the Mississippi
Well I sure miss my mama, and I even miss ol' Pa
But I love that muddy water most of all
I was raised on the river, muddy water gonna carry me home
She's gonna rock me like a baby rollin' in her sweet lovin' arms
I was a barefoot boy born in Dixieland
Brought up on the banks to be a river man
Sweet child of the Mississippi
Sweet child of the Mississippi
Sweet child of the Mississippi
Sweet child of the Mississippi