French Broad River

Last morning I did tread the creek Thinking how my boots do leak ’Twas then that I was fain to speak To all you Naiads dear. Well I’ll swim the french broad river And become a little thinner When I lay me down to dinner At Dixie’s house to dine. Well I’ll order in the brandy And wine and summer shandy A stronger braver man I’ll be For thee and me and mine. A year ago today I sprung From stone to rock aye every one Amid the river wash and run With my sweat-heart near. The river-rocks did hold their fire And with them my true love’s desire And Johnny if you’ll be my squire I’ll take you as my dear. Refrão But Janus meant to bind the lees With a tether of ice about the knees And when the river walk did freeze My true love to me sang. Last year I drank you down so wild When you were cordial as a child A tasty draft of bitter-and-mild The glass it loudly rang. Refrão Had I the cocky red-breast song To whistle Dixie all night long For all the world that’s suffered wrong And all you naiads dear. Well I'll swim the french broad river And become a little thinner When I lay me down to dinner At Dixie’s house to dine. Well I’ll order in the brandy And wine and summer shandy A stronger braver man I’ll be For thee and me and . . . Well I’ll swim the french broad river And become a little thinner When I lay me down to dinner At Dixie’s house to dine. Well I’ll order in the brandy And wine and summer shandy A stronger braver man I’ll be For thee and me mine.