1. the smelt are a running the fever's in the air The smelters are coming with their waders and beer There's toivo and eino in their pickup truck They got alma and martha in case they get stuck
2. and the boys from the college they all come by here They're eating their raw smelt and drinking their beer They all go so crazy they got nothing to lose They fall in the river and throw up on their shoes
Chorus: Everybody's going smelting Everybody's going smelting Everybody's going smelting Smelting u.s.a.
3. and those downstate boys in their winnebago's Are fishing for big smelt with their fishing poles They love us yoopers and they don't give a damn If we drink all their beers and eat all their spam
(repeat chorus)
4. yah the smelt are a running the fever's everywhere So patch up your waders its that time of year Pick up a six-pack and dust off the net And head for the river its fun ya you betcha