Reason to Believe

[Verse 1: Michael Penn] Seen a man standing over a dead dog Down by the highway in a ditch He's looking down kind of puzzled Poking that dog with a stick Got his car door flung open He's standing out on Highway 31 Like if he stood there long enough That dog'd get up and run [Chorus: Michael Penn] Struck me kind of funny Seemed kind of funny, sir, to me Still at the end of every hard day People find some reason to believe [Verse 2: Aimee Mann & Michael Penn] Now, Mary Lou loved Johnny With a love mean and true She said, "Baby, I'll work for you every day And bring my money home to you" One day, he up and left her And ever sincе that She waits down at the end of that dirt road For young Johnny to comе back [Chorus: Aimee Mann & Michael Penn] Struck me kinda funny Funny, yeah, indeed How at the end of every hard-earned day You can find some reason to believe [Verse 3: Aimee Mann & Michael Penn] Take a baby to the river Kyle William, they called him Wash the baby in the water Take away little Kyle's sin In a whitewashed shotgun shack An old man passes away Take the body to the graveyard And over him they pray [Chorus: Aimee Mann & Michael Penn] Lord, won't you tell us Tell us, what does it mean? At the end of every hard-earned day People find some reason to believe [Verse 4: Aimee Mann & Michael Penn, Michael Penn] Congregation gathers Down by the riverside Preacher stands with his Bible Groom stands waiting for his bride Congregation gone The sun sets behind a weeping willow tree Groom stands all alone and watches The river rush on effortlessly [Chorus: Aimee Mann & Michael Penn] Wondering where can his Baby be Still at the end of every hard-earned day People find some reason to believe