D

[Verse]
                                        G               D
My granddad used to tell me, "Boy, when I was just your age
                         Em                  A
I was a river pilot on a showboat called The Stage
    D                                    G           D
I'd hobnob with them southern belles and every roustabout
                                     Em       A        D
I'd listen to them paddle wheels and hear the leadsman shout"

[Chorus]
     D
Mark Twain, (Mark Twain) it's two fathoms deep below
     Em           A                Em
Mark Twain, (Mark Twain) heave the gangplank, start the show
     D                 G            D
Mark Twain, play those banjos as we go
Bm             F#m               Em      A   D G A D  G A D
Down the Mississippi, 'round the Gulf of Mexico

[Verse]
                                             G                  D
There were gamblers, crooks and fakers and a minstrel man who'd dance
                                Em                   A
A singin' gal, Simone Lamour, imported straight from France
   D                                G                   D
It was a floatin' palace, boy, that showboat called The Stage
                                      Em     A       D
And granddad was the king of it, when he was just my age

[Chorus]
     D
Mark Twain, (Mark Twain) it's two fathoms deep below
     Em           A                Em
Mark Twain, (Mark Twain) heave the gangplank, start the show
     D                 G            D
Mark Twain, play those banjos as we go
Bm             F#m               Em      A   D
Down the Mississippi, 'round the Gulf of Mexico

[Instrumental
D G A D
D G A D
D G A D
D G A D

[Verse]
                               G                   D
The calliope is quiet now, the rudder's thick with rust
                                       Em                A
The main deck and the paddlewheels are covered high with dust
    D                              G               D
But granddad's in his glory, still standin' on the bow
                                  Em    A        D
A halo 'round his pilot's cap and I can hear him now

[Chorus]
     D
Mark Twain, (Mark Twain) it's two fathoms deep below
     Em           A                Em
Mark Twain, (Mark Twain) heave the gangplank, start the show
     D                 G            D
Mark Twain, play those banjos as we go
Bm             F#m               Em      A   D
Down the Mississippi, 'round the Gulf of Mexico

[Chorus]
     D
Mark Twain, it's two fathoms deep below
     Em
Mark Twain, heave the gangplank, start the show
     D                 G            D
Mark Twain, play those banjos as we go
Bm             F#m               Em      A   D
Down the Mississippi, 'round the Gulf of Mexico