The River

I come from down in the valley
Where mister when you're young
They bring you up to do like your daddy's done
Me and Mary we met in high school
When she was just seventeen
We drive out of this valley
Down to where the fields are green

Em - - - / G - - - / D - - - / C - - - / Em - - - / G - - - / C - - - / G - - - /
C - - - /   / G - > - / Em - - - / Am - - - /   / G - - - / C - - - //

 C:	We go down to the river
And into the river we’d dive
Down to the river, we'd ride

Em - - - / C - - - / D - - - / G - > - / Em - - - / C - - - / D - - - / C - - - //

Then I got Mary pregnant
And man that was all she wrote
And for my nineteenth birthday
I got a union card and wedding coat
We went down to the courthouse
And the judge put it all to rest
No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisles
No flowers, no wedding dress

 C:	At night we’d go down to the river
And into the river we go
Down to the river, we'd ride

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 those things that seemed so important
Well mister they vanished right into the air
Now I just act like I don't remember
And Mary acts like she don't care

But I remember us riding in my brother’s car
Her body tanned and wet down at the reservoir
At night on those banks I'd lie awake
And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take
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 just something worse?

 C:	That sends me down to the river
Though I know the river is dry
Down to the river, we'd ride
Tonight, Ah...  Down to the river
Down to the river we'd ride


© 1980 CBS Records::  on his "The River" and "Live 75-85"