I've been watching the man at the bar
With his head in his hands
And I think to myself
I was just like you
I can see there were times in your life
When it's way too much for you
The battles you had or the armor you chose
When I first fell in love in the morning
I tried to remember to say
A quiet thank you
And if our eyes were the weight in my heart
Then I could play myself
A sweet little song
And I feel those cool rivers
Washing all over me
And I know these smooth rhythms
Make me move my feet
Oh you give me those soul shivers
Taking me back to the days
When music was a life giver
Make a bad man change ways
[instrumental break]
Cool rivers, soul shiver
I can feel those smooth rhythms
Make a bad man change
A bad man change his way
I've seen men who sleep
On the side of the road
With a smile upon their face
I heard old men sing with youth in their voice
When their old time record plays
I seen young boys learning their first steps
To the sound of those drum breaks
And I heard the sound that accompanied
So many fresh mistakes
And I feel those cool rivers
Washing all over me
And I know these smooth rhythms
Make me move my feet
Oh you give me those soul shivers
Taking me back to the days
When music was a life giver
Make a bad man change ways
[instrumental break]
Cool rivers, soul shiver
I can feel those smooth rhythms
Make a bad man change
A bad man change his way