Well I'm gonna pick up some of these empties lord, As soon as I find where they lay, Tied-off them jolly and leavin my ends, On a long hot summer day. Forever day I'm workin on the Illinois River, Get a half a day off with pay, Oh tow boat pickin up barges, On a long hot summer day. Well I got me a gal in Pekin, She's a good oh gal okay, Oh she's sittin there waitin by a window fan, On a long hot summer day. Forever day I'm workin on the Illinois River, Get a half a day off with pay, Oh tow boat pickin up barges, On a long hot summer day. Well last night we had pork for supper, Tomorrow it'll be chicken consommé, And fruit jar full of iced tea, On a long hot summer day. Forever day I'm workin on the Illinois River, Get a half a day off with pay, Oh tow boat pickin up barges, On a long hot summer day. Well we dropped a man off in Beardstown, When we got off yesterday, Gonna get off down in Alton, On a long hot summer day. And forever day I'm workin on the Illinois River, Get a half a day off with pay, Oh tow boat pickin up barges, On a long hot summer day. Forever day I'm workin on the Illinois River, Get a half a day off with pay, Oh tow boat pickin up barges, On a long hot summer day. Forever day I'm workin on the Illinois River, Get a half a day off with pay, Oh tow boat pickin up barges, On a long hot summer day.