I can't recall my mother
I don't remember dad
Mister and Mississippi was all I ever had
Oh! I was born to wander
Oh! I was born to roam
And Mister and Mississippi
Made me feel at home.

Oh! I was born to wander
I was born to roam
And Mister and Mississippi
Made me feel at home.

My cradle was the river
My school a river boat
My teacher was a gambler
The slickest one a float
My teacher was a gambler
The slickest one a float
He taught me not to gamble
On a petti coat.

Oh! I was born to wander
I was born to roam
And Mister and Mississippi
Made me feel at home.

Oh! Darling, how I love you
What more is there to say
I love you like a barefoot boy
Loves a summer day
The way a wand'ring gypsy
Loves the changing scenes
Just like the restless river
Loves old New Orleans.

Oh! I was born to wander
I was born to roam
And Mister and Mississippi
Made me feel at home.

I'd love a tiny village
A quiet country town
A house, a little garden
With kiddies running 'round
You'd be a faithful husband
I'd be a trusting friend
Until I heard that steamboat
Comin' 'round the bend.

Oh! I was born to wander
I was born to roam
And Mister and Mississippi
Made me feel at home.