SAILING DOWN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
Words by Jean C. Havez, music by George Botsford, ©1913.

1. 'Round the bend I see the steamer comin', dear,
Headin' here,
To this pier.
If you hurry, we will make it, never fear,
On the Old Dominion Line.
Ain't she sailing pretty as she hugs the shore,
Steamin' for Baltimore?
Hear the paddles turnin'.
Hear the water churnin'.
She's the queen of Chesapeake Bay!

CHORUS: Come on, Nancy; put your best dress on.
Come on, Nancy, 'fore the steamboat's gone.
Ev'rything is lovely on the Chesapeake Bay.
All aboard for Baltimore,
And if we're late, they'll all be sore.
Now look here, Captain; let us catch that boat.
We can't swim and, listen, we can't float!
Darkies hummin' a good old tune,
Up on deck, is the place to spoon.
Cuddle up close, beneath the silv'ry moon,
Sailing down the Chesapeake Bay.

2. Hurry, dear; the steamer ain't a mile away,
Down the bay,
On her way.
See the smoke a-pourin' from her funnels gay.
Honey, ain't that picture grand?
Put your bib and tucker on and come with me.
Sights we'll see, you'll agree.
Hear the darkies hummin',
While the steamer's comin'.
She's the Belle of Chesapeake Bay.—CHORUS
First verse and chorus from the text here http://www.jbott.com/saildwn.html
(which gives "banjo strummin'" instead of "darkies hummin'")

Second verse is from a cylinder by the American Quartet, which I downloaded from the UCSB archive of old cylinder recordings. Text of this one is clearer (to my ear) than the other version I have, by Clayton McMichen.