The river it knew my name nAnd not many men could say the same nbut it’d lose it’s soul when the rains came nlose it’s soul when the rains came nRiver’s edge ain’t no place to be nunless you was born a man like me nwork just crumbles beneath my feet nwork just crumbles beneath my feet nnValley was warned as far as I could tell nwith announcements the good Lord makes so well nnothing to buy but a lot to sell nnothing to buy but a lot to sell nseems the river had it way many years before nwith water breaking down granddaddy’s front porch door nhe stuck his regiment’s flag in the muddy shore nsaid you ain’t taking another inch anymore nnHe said the river takes notice if you make a stand nas it wears down a young farmer’s land nit remembers faces as it rolls by nit remembers faces as it rolls by nDaddy brought me to the roof in 72 nwith the rain soaking us both thru nhe said ‘son I think it’s gonna spare us this time’ nI think he’d been nippin’ at granddaddy’s wine nnbreak: n I guess five wars will turn a family hard n mamma said ‘pay no attention to that boat in the yard’ nnThe river it knew my name nAnd not many men could say the same nbut it’d lose it’s soul when the rains came nlose it’s soul when the rains came