[ Don Rich ]      Well, I'm fishin' in the middle of the Mississippi River   And the water's too muddy to drink   Big catfish bitin' on the little pole    And my baby's waitin' on the bank      Well, you tried to make a livin' on the Mississippi River    It's a mighty hard life to live   But I'm gonna build a house for my pretty little baby   And I'm gonna build it on the hill.      Well, maybe if I'm lucky I'll catch a catfish    And I'll sell 'em for a dollar bill   Then I'm gonna buy another board and a pocketful of nails   For my little house on the hill.      Well, I'm fishin' in the middle of the Mississippi River   And the water's too muddy to drink   Big catfish bitin' on the little pole    And my baby's waitin' on the bank      --- Instrumental ---      My pappy told me there's sure gonna be    A lotta hard times a comin' around   But I'd rather go a fishin' on the Mississippi River    Than livin' in a cold, cold ground.      Well, I can't make whiskey like all the others    Oh, my baby would set me free   I have to go runnin' down Mississippi River    When the law come callin' on me.      Well, I'm fishin' in the middle of the Mississippi River   And the water's too muddy to drink   Big catfish bitin' on the little pole    And my baby's waitin' on the bank.      Well, I'm fishin' in the middle of the Mississippi River   And the water's too muddy to drink   Big catfish bitin' on the little pole    And my baby's waitin' on the bank...