Have you ever took a boat ride
Down the Mississippi
Well, if you do
You oughta take it on the Ella
Yes, she starts off in St Louis Missouri
And she takes you down to New Orleans
And on out to the sea
Well you heard about the good Queen Mary
Sailin' on the seven seas
But you ain't never took no boat ride
Till you been ridin' on the Ella
Her accomodations are among the best
You get three square meals a day
And a place to rest
We can just smells them ole hot biscuits
And that country ham
That old fried chicken,
Mash potatoes and the candied yam
Well you heard about the Constitution
Fightin' the revolutionary war
Well ? America's inland neighbor
She's the finest runnin' shore to shore

(Instrumental soloing)

Mmmmit takes about a week
To get back down that there river
But once you get on board
You can wish it would last forever
Oh you just sit out on the deck
And fish off the side all day
Watch the sunny south land roll on by
And dream your blues away
Well you heard about the ship Titanic
A sailin' on the northern sea
But you ain't never took no boat ride
Till you been ridin' on the Ella
B - eee- b-eee hee hee B - eee