Lyr. Add: Roll Out! Heave Dat Cotton
Will S. Hays

1
I hear dat bell a ringin',
I see de Captain stand,
Boat done blowed her whistle,
I know she's gwine to land;
I hear de mate a callin'
"Go git out de plank,
Rush out wid de head line
And tie her to de bank."

Chorus:
Roll out! heave dat cotton.
Roll out! heave dat cotton.
Roll out! heave dat cotton,
Ain't got long to stay.

2
It's early in de mornin'
Before we see de sun,
"Roll aboard dat cotton,
An' git back in a run,"
De Captain's in a hurry,
I know what he means,
Wants to beat the Sherlock,
Down to New Orleans.
3
I hear dat mate a shoutin',
An' see him on de shore,
Hurry boys! be lively,
Ain't but fifty more;
We ain't got time to tarry
Here at dis cotton pile,
We gwine to get another,
Below here forty mile.
4
We done took on de cotton,
Shove out from de shore,
Sailing down de river,
We gwine to land for more,
When you hear de whistlle,
An' de big bell ring,
We gwine to land for cotton,
Roll out, boys, an' sing.

1877 sheet music, J. E. Ditson & Co., Philadelphia.
American Memory, 19th C. song.