Song for a Deck Hand's Daughter

He'd always whistle Jolie Blonde

On his way out the back door on a Friday night

So many times he just stayed gone

Rarely did he try to treat your mama right

Shut off the tractor with the field half mowed

Set the brake and headed down the road

Came home for Christmas

Never said where he'd been

With No presents for the children

Only stories for the men

[Chorus:]

Still your mama called him daddy

She never told him no

Said she couldn't help but love him

You wondered how it could be so

He'd work two weeks out on a river barge

She worked in the factory never missed a day

He'd spend his week off holding up the bar

Never took him long to drink a deckhand's pay

Wind off the river

Cut the lines on his face

And left him dreaming of some other place

Maybe Memphis town or Baton Rouge

When it's cold in Cape Girardeau

There's nothing much to do

[Chorus]

And if his suitcase wasn't standing in the hall

He might not be coming home at all

And all the sides of him you never knew before

Would be drifting down the river to another back door

[Chorus]