One day a big excursion sailed afar out in the
  lake,
All bent upon an outing with their sandwiches and
  cake.
They sought the upper deck until the wind began to
  blow,
When all engaged in different things as every one
  must know;
  While I fed the fishes,
  I fed the fishes,
I fed the fishes clear to Old St. Joe.

Good Captain Stines went up on deck to cast his
  weather eye;
A woman sadly, badly prayed, "Oh, Father, let me
  die!"
The cabin-boys ran back and forth in staterooms all
  around,
While voices shrieked: "Oh, mercy--oop! Oh--
  oop! wish I were drowned."
  But I fed the fishes,
  I gave them my best wishes,
I fed the fishes clear to Old St. Joe.

The pilot boldly held the wheel as through the waves
  we sped,
While Purser Hancock ran abaft to hold some woman's
  head;
One fellow sat him down and sand: "Good-bye,
  sweetheart, good-bye;"
Most every one seemed occupied, and, sad to say,
  then I--
  I fed the fishes,
  I fed the fishes,
I fed the fishes clear to Old St. Joe.

The "Chicora" rose up in the air and then came
  down "kersock;"
She wibble-wobbled in the sea and once she struck a
  rock;
The purser wore a pallid look, the women all turned
  pale,
While calmly I sat out on deck and hung over the rail;
  For I fed the fishes,
  I gave them my best wishes,
I fed the fishes clear to Old St. Joe.

Some tried to eat their sandwiches, some staggered,
  reeled and laughed,
While others went below to smile, and there the
  brown ale quaffed.
The steward, Richard Waters, rushed about with
  whisky slings;
Most every one seemed occupied, and all did different
  things,
  But I fed the fishes,
  I fed the fishes,
I fed the fishes clear to Old St. Joe.