3 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Long Hot Summer Days Lyrics
Gonna pick up some of them 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
All day long I'm makin' 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 a 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
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day
Last night we had port for supper
Today it'll be chicken consommé
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
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day
Well we put a man off in Beardstown
When we come down yesterday
I'm gonna 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
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day
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
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day
She's a good ol' gal okay
I bet she's sitting a 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
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day
Today it'll be chicken consommé
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
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day
When we come down yesterday
I'm gonna 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
All day long I'm makin' up barges
On a long hot summer day
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I'm surprised this is listed with Sara Watkins as the songwriter.
It was actually written by Mississippi Riverboat Pilot and minstrel John Hartford (before Sara was born) and release on the 1976 album 'Mark Twang'. This was just one of dozens of his solo tunes, where he tried to capture the spirit of travelling the Mississippi on a riverboat...
And he really was a licensed Riverboat Pilot!
Just an afterthought here... I've heard Sara Watkins version of Hot Summer Day, and it really is sweet. If John Hartford was still around, it'd do him proud. Rest in Peace, old friend!
what is a jolly and leaving line?
A leaving line is a large (1 1/2-2 inch) rope, often with a loop in the end, that is left behind, or can be if needed, at the dock. They are cheap, for big rope & in the context of time is money, if you have to go. Can be cast off from the ship side and left with the dock end cleated. "Jolly line", I never did figure out, & never asked John the couple times I saw him. But my guess is that it referred to a 'Jolly boat', a skiff, that is used to ferry...
A leaving line is a large (1 1/2-2 inch) rope, often with a loop in the end, that is left behind, or can be if needed, at the dock. They are cheap, for big rope & in the context of time is money, if you have to go. Can be cast off from the ship side and left with the dock end cleated. "Jolly line", I never did figure out, & never asked John the couple times I saw him. But my guess is that it referred to a 'Jolly boat', a skiff, that is used to ferry crew to shore. So,"..tie off that Jolly (boat), and leaving line. on a long...". Two different things to be done before going ashore.