The river it knew my name
And not many men could say the same
But it'd lose it's soul when the rains came
Lose it's soul when the rains came
River's edge ain't no place to be
Unless you was born a man like me
Work just crumbles beneath my feet
Work just crumbles beneath my feet
Valley was warned as far as I could tell
With announcements the good Lord makes so well
Nothing to buy but a lot to sell
Nothing to buy but a lot to sell
Seems the river had it way many years before
With water breaking down granddaddy's front porch door
He stuck his regiment's flag in the muddy shore
Said you ain't taking another inch anymore
He said the river takes notice if you make a stand
As it wears down a young farmer's land
It remembers faces as it rolls by
It remembers faces as it rolls by
Daddy brought me to the roof in 72
With the rain soaking us both thru
He said 'son I think it's gonna spare us this time'
I think he'd been nippin' at granddaddy's wine
Break:
I guess five wars will turn a family hard
Mamma said 'pay no attention to that boat in the yard'
The river it knew my name
And not many men could say the same
But it'd lose it's soul when the rains came
Lose it's soul when the rains came