It was Old Joe’s favourite river,
The mighty Murray of that time,
Where he spent many years,
When both were in their prime.

If Old Joe were here today,
He’d be a tad flamin’ aghast,
To think his favourite river,
And it’s former glory days have passed.

And Old Joe loved the red gums,
Where the Corellas often perched,
As underneath their canopies,
For tasty Murray Cray he searched.

Old Joe loved the paddle steamers,
That plied their trade back then,
As they headed for Victoria,
Then back to South Australia, again.

But the river held for Old Joe,
A lifelong and unfulfilled wish,
That he never caught that Murray Cod,
Legend, king of all the fish.