The one I remember is by Harry Belafonte.

Lyr. Add: BIG BOAT UP THE RIVER
Words-Music, Dixon

Big boat up the river hauling seven ton
Coming up from Natchez on the Memphis run
Paddle wheel a-slipping and the keel done cracked
Mean old Mississippi trying to hold me back.

CHORUS: Won't somebody tell my woman (3x)
Big boat up the river and it won't come down (3x)

Captain told the stokers well pack her tight
Got to get to Memphis by tomorrow night
Coming up the Delta well the fog done sat
Captain, Lord, Captain, tell me where we at.

Big boat a-comin' in the pitch black night
That Mississippi fog done hid the pilot's light
Gauging, Mr Gauger what's that rumbling sound
Sandbar dead ahead and we done run aground.

My woman says she loves me and I know it's true
But I've done done something that you just don't do
Stayed from home too long and now I see
Some Natchez man is tryin' to take my gal from me.

He's messing around with my woman
Messing around with my woman
He's messing around with my woman

When I go off this I'm gonna stay on land
Gonna take my little woman well a by the hand
Build me a cabin on a high old hill
Get me a rocking-chair and sit right still
But on some quiet night when the wind done rift
The sounds from the river will begin to drift
Some lonely rambler with a tearful eye
Will touch my heart with his mournful cry.

Big Boat Up the River