The late Bert Fenn, was a long time friend
The river, we both were fond of
He related this tale, and a letter in the mail
From his [?] city Indiana

His father told him of days of old
An era of wonderous progression
Era of indoor plumbing and telephones
And other modern inventions

Oh my darling
An era of wonderous progression
Of indoor plumbing and telephones
And other modern inventions

Back then they set around discussing it
The old folks were just a figurin'
Wouldn't believe they would see
Electric lights a flickering

They seen infact, the great impact
The things we take for granted
The whistle blew, and everyone knew
That the Guiding Star had landed

Oh my darling
The things we take for granted
When the whistle blew, everyone knew
The Guiding Star had landed

The Guiding Star, was a sumptious car
An elegant side wheel steamer
Seen in Cincinnati and New Orleans
And major towns between there

Guiding Star was from afar
And like a star, did twinkle
Her Captain and crew were always looked up to
For always the latest wrinkle

Oh my darling
And like a star did twinkle
Her Captain and crew were always looked up to
For always the latest wrinkle

The Guiding Star came down the river
And she landed at Tell City
Connected on board to a long power cord
Was honest to God real electricity

The people on the street couldn't believe
It caused such an incredible sensation
August Schriber was so impressed
He called for an official occasion

Oh my darling
Such an incredible sensation
August Schriber was so impressed
He called for an official occasion

All day long, the happy throng
Lined up to get aboard her
To site the electric lights
Just to stare and wonder

The Captain was touched, to see how much
Every heart was yearning
To see the site, in broad day light
Of the electric light a-burning

Oh my darling
Yes every heart was yearning
To see the site in broad daylight
Of the electric lights a burning

The mechanical fan and the calliope
The city fathers, gentlemen and ladies
Folks were there from Tell City Chair
Back then in the 1880s

Everyone came from miles around
Down at the boat, were standing
The first electricity on the Ohio River
Came to Tell City Landing

Oh my darling
Down at the boat, were standing
The first electricity on the Ohio River
To come to Tell City Landing

Captain Hegler, of the Guiding Star
Wanted to show the rest there
His appreciation for the celebration
Gave the most magnificent gesture

So at the high point of this event
As the afternoon slid toward nightfall
Made a speech and presented the mayor
With a freshly burnt-out light bulb

Oh my darling
As the afternoon slid toward nightfall
He made a speech and presented the mayor
With a freshly burnt-out light bulb

The light bulb was an instant hit
And the mayor owned a drug store
It was put on display in a museum case
Everyone relished it even more

It was still there in later years
They moved it into the window
One night some neighborhood boys made some noise
And threw a brick through the drug store window

Oh my darling
They moved it into the window
One night some neighborhood boys made some noise
And there a brick through the drug store window

Now all we know is a few old photos
Old pictures of old steamboats loadin'
Stuff that Bert Fenn collects
And the stories his daddy told him

You know Bert Fenn, was a long time friend
I always liked to visit him
The other day, he passed away
You can bet I sure do miss him

Oh my darling
I always like to visit him
The other day, he passed away
You can bet I sure do miss him