Here are the lyrics from Charlie Poole: 
Hesitation Blues (If the River Was Whiskey)-
Bluegrass Messengers 
(Chords by: bluerabbit10-01-29-05)

Banjo tuning (bdgbd) Key of E (5th string up to B)(All verses same chords)

(E) If the river was whiskey and I was a duck
I'd dive to the bottom and I'd never come up
    Oh, tell me how (B) long----- have I got to (E) wait
    Oh, can I get you (B) now----- must I (E) hesitate?

(E) If the river was whiskey and the branch was wine
You would see me in bathing just any old time
    Oh, tell me how (B) long---- have I got to (E) wait
    Oh, can I get you (B)---- now, must I (E) hesitate?

I was born in England, raised in France
I ordered a suit of clothes and they wouldn't 
send the pants.
    Oh, tell me how long have I got to wait
    Oh, can I get you now, must I hesitate?

I was born in Alabama, I’s raised in Tennessee
If you don't like my peaches, don't shake on my tree
    Oh, tell me how long have I got to wait
    Oh, can I get you now, must I hesitate?

I looked down the road just as far as I could see
A man had my woman and the blues had me
    Oh, tell me how long have I got to wait
    Oh, can I get you now, must I hesitate?

I ain't no doctor but the doctor's son
I can do the doct'rin' till the doctor comes
    Oh, tell me how long have I got to wait
    Oh, can I get you now, must I hesitate?

Got the hesitation stockings, the hesitation shoes
Believe to my Lord I've got the hesitation blues
    Oh, tell me how long have I got to wait
    Oh, can I get you now, must I hesitate?