[Intro — gang shouts over drums and bass riff] Seventeen! Ozarks summer! Down by the river, here we go! [Hook — all three MCs, group shout] Seventeen summers, river running wide (hey now!) Gravel on the tires, sunburn on one side (watch out!) You turned that radio up, sang the night away First summer love, still makes me grin today! [Verse 1 — MC-H, animated nasal flow] You came to see your kin for the summertime I saw you by the river, forgot my own line Said, “Check out this cast,” though I had no bait Then tripped on a cooler trying to look great My truck coughed twice, I called it a feature You said, “Does it start?” I said, “Ask the preacher” Hot afternoon, gravel dust in the air I ran out of cool about halfway there [Verse 1b — MC-L, gravelly low growl] You grinned, I quit trying to be some big deal We sat by the water, let the day go real Her folks had a campsite, lanterns coming on We’d slip downriver when the supper was gone Float trips and jokes, sun baked on our knees A paper cup bobbing past the sycamore trees At night that old country station filled the truck Two songs came around—you’d crank them right up [Hook — all three MCs, group shout] Seventeen summers, river running wide (hey now!) Gravel on the tires, sunburn on one side (watch out!) You turned that radio up, sang the night away First summer love, still makes me grin today! [Verse 2 — MC-M, punchy mid flow] “Fishin’ in the Dark” came through the dash You spun that knob like you owned the whole patch Then “Strawberry Wine”—volume went higher I said, “Good choice,” trying not to look like a liar We laughed at my shorts and my heroic plan To leap off the bank—I just slipped where I stand Her family played cards by the campground light They never knew we’d been gone half the night [Hook — all three MCs, group shout] Seventeen summers, river running wide (hey now!) Gravel on the tires, sunburn on one side (watch out!) You turned that radio up, sang the night away First summer love, still makes me grin today! [Breakdown — percussion only, handclaps and kit, scratch fills] [Scratch fills] Seventeen! [Porch shouts, stomp-clap break] They didn't even know! [Verse 3 — MC-H and MC-L trading every two bars] [MC-H] Her folks pulled out when the last week was through [MC-L] They learned we’d slipped off when the summer was through [MC-H] We stayed in touch, sent notes down the line [MC-L] Next year she came back, but her plans weren’t mine [MC-H] She had somebody; I’d found my own way [MC-L] No hard feelings, just a wave and “hey” [MC-H] Now those nights live easy, no ache, no regret [MC-L] Just river-wet hair and a song we won’t forget [Both, shouted] Seventeen summers, that’s all it had to be! [Hook — all three MCs, group shout, twice] Seventeen summers, river running wide (hey now!) Gravel on the tires, sunburn on one side (watch out!) You turned that radio up, sang the night away First summer love, still makes me grin today! Seventeen summers, river running wide (hey now!) Gravel on the tires, sunburn on one side (watch out!) You turned that radio up, sang the night away First summer love, still makes me grin today! [Outro — gang shouts over fading groove] Ozarks summer! Seventeen! River bends and radio memories!
