I,o,i,o

But she went back down the river

Just when I thought I could be strong

When I thought I could be strong

So I sing

Hi-yo, hi-ya- ya-... ya-yo

Hi-yo

Hi-yo, hi-ya- ya-... ya-yo

Hi-yo

She never told me why she left me

But the letter said goodbye

Now my mornings are for wondering

And my nights to reason why

Why a stranger comes to steal the love

Of a girl I had so long

But she went back down the river

Just when I thought I could be strong

When I thought I could be strong

So I sing

Hi-yo, hi-ya- ya-... ya-yo

Hi-yo

When the sun first strikes the trees

All the morning birds could sing above

Still bring back memories

Of a girl who stood beside me

When the rights I did were wrong

But she went back down the river

Just when I thought I could be strong

When I thought I could be strong

So I sing, "Hi-yo, hi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yo"

She never told me why she left me, but the letter said goodbye

Now my mornings are for wondering, and my nights to reason why

Why a stranger comes to steal the love of a girl I had so long

But she went back down the river, just when I thought I could be strong

When I thought I could be strong

...