The River

[Verse]

I come from down in the valley where, Mister, when you're young

They bring you up to do like your daddy done

Me and Mary met in high school when she was just seventeen

We'd ride out of that valley down to where the fields were green

[Chorus]

We'd go down to the river

And into the river, we'd dive

Oh, down to the river we'd ride

[Verse 2]

Then I got Mary pregnant and, man, that was all she wrote

For my nineteenth birthday, I got a union card and a wеdding coat

We went down to the courthousе and the judge put it all to rest

No wedding day smile, no walk down the aisle

No flowers, no wedding dress

[Chorus]

That night, we went down to the river

And into the river, we'd dive

Oh, down to the river we did ride

[Verse]

I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company

But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy

Now all them things that seemed so important

Well, Mister, they vanished right into the air

Now I act like I don't remember and Mary acts like she don't care

[Bridge]

But I remember us riding in my brother's car

Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir

At night on them banks, I'd lie awake

And pull her close just to feel each breath she takes

Now those memories come back to haunt me

They haunt me like a curse

Is a dream a lie if it don't come true?

Or is it something worse?

[Chorus]

Sends me down to the river

I know the river is dry

Sends me down to the river tonight

[Outro]

Down to the river

My baby and I

Oh, down to the river

We dive