Just a young man in an old steel town I'm getting older now, it's time to look around My brother John loves his needle and spoon A cigarette hangs from his lip Everyone 'round thinks he's so bad He's really not that cool, no And I know the reasons why Deep inside he's not alive He was born by a river You know he'll die by the river now 'Cause deep inside my river's run dry So many times did mother swallow her pride Just to keep my old man's dreams alive And I know, and I know someday we're gonna move on outta here She says "Jesus, Lord, don't give me no bad thoughts and bury me here." And I know the reasons why And I know the reasons why She was born by a river Her blood flows through the river now And deep inside my river's run dry She was born by a river Her blood flows through the river now 'Cause deep inside my river's run dry Oh, take hold my hand and pray Someday baby we're gonna find a way Oh, oh I know the reasons why 'Cause deep inside she lost her life Yeah, yeah, yeah She was born by a river Her blood flows through the river now Deep inside the river's run dry She was born by a river You know, we'll die by the river now 'Cause deep inside my river's run dry Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ooh, yeah We're born by the river now You know, she'll die by the river now Yeah, yeah, huummm