Just a young man in an old steel town
I'm getting older now, it's time to look around
My brother John loves his needle & spoon
A cigarette hangs from his lip
Everyone ˜round thinks he's so bad

He's really not that cool, no

And I know the reasons why
Deep inside he's not alive
He was born by a river
You know he'll die by the river now
˜Cause deep inside my river's run dry

So many times did mother swallow her pride
Just to keep my old man's dreams alive
And I know, and I know someday we're gonna move on outta here
She says "Jesus, Lord, don't give me no bad thoughts and bury me here."

And I know the reasons why, and I know the reasons why
She was born by a river
Her blood flows through the river now
And deep inside my river's run dry
She was born by a river
Her blood flows through the river now
˜Cause deep inside my river's run dry

Oh, take hold my hand and pray
Someday baby we're gonna find a way
Oh, oh

I know the reasons why
˜Cause deep inside she lost her life
Yeah, yeah, yeah

She was born by a river
Her blood flows through the river now
Deep inside the river's run dry
She was born by a river
You know, we'll die by the river now
˜Cause deep inside my river's run dry
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
Ooh, yeah

We're born by the river now
You know, she'll die by the river now
Yeah, yeah, huummm