[Verse 1] Well, I was born up in the mountains Raised up in a desert town And I never saw the ocean Till I was close to your age now [Chorus] Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you Hey hey hey, your rolling river Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you Hey hey hey, only a river gonna make things right Only a river gonna make things right Only a river gonna make things right [Verse 2] I'm going back to San Angelo The ground is hard and the count is dry But I'm gonna get my fill somehow Rivers of corn, and wheat and rye [Chorus] Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you Hey hey hey, your rolling river Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you Hey hey hey, only a river gonna make things right Only a river gonna make things right Only a river gonna make things right [Chorus] Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you Hey hey hey, your rolling river Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you Hey hey hey, only a river gonna make things right Only a river gonna make things right Only a river gonna make things right [Verse 3] Now, red, red, river bowing Will she remember all the things we said? And what's the chance that she'll remember All those nights in the riverbed? [Chorus] Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you Hey hey hey, your rolling river Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you Hey hey hey, only a river gonna make things right Only a river gonna make things right Only a river gonna make things right