On the Tom Big Bee River so bright I was born
In a hut made of husks of the tall yellow corn
It was there that I first met my Julah so true
And I rowed her around in the gum tree canoe
Sing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in my gum tree canoe
Sing row away row o’er the waters so blue
Like a feather we’ll float in my gum tree canoe
All day in the fields of soft cotton I’d hoe
And think of my Julah and sing as I go
I’d catch her a bird with a wing of true blue
And at night row her around in the gum tree canoe
With my hand on my banjo and my toe on the oar
I would sing her a song to the river’s soft roar
While the bright stars shone down on my Julah so true
And they danced in her eyes in the gum tree canoe
One day the old river took us so far away
That we couldn’t get back so we thought we’d just stay
We spied a tall ship with a flag of true blue
And she took us in tow in the gum tree canoe