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Long Hot Summer Days

by John Hartford

on Mark Twang (1976)

Gonna pick up some of these empties here
Just as soon as we know where they lay
Tied off of them jolly and leaving lines
On a long hot summer day
For every day I work on the Illinois River
Get a half a day off with pay
Old tow boat pickin' up barges
On a long hot summer day

Well I got me a gal in Pekin
She's a good ol' gal okay
I bet she's sitting by 'er window fan
On a long hot summer day
For every day I work on the Illinois River
Get a half a day off with pay
Old tow boat pickin' up barges
On a long hot summer day

Last night we had pork for supper
Today it'll be chicken consomme
And a fruit jar full of iced tea
On a long hot summer day
For every day I work on the Illinois River
Get a half a day off with pay
Old tow boat pickin' up barges
On a long hot summer day

Well we put a man off in Beardstown
When we come down yesterday
I'm gonna get off down at Alton
On a long hot summer day
For every day I work on the Illinois River
Get a half a day off with pay
Old tow boat pickin' up barges
On a long hot summer day