[Intro] Slide guitar crying low, The clouds are heavy and black [Harmonica] [Verse 1] River at my doorstep, knocking like an old friend Used to come in springtime, now it don’t know when Levee line’s a question, written in the sand Water got a long memory, stronger than a man...... [Verse 2] Daddy farmed this bottomland, his daddy did the same River fed the cotton rows, called us all by name Now the rain fall harder, stays a little longer Every year the water rise, every year it’s stronger yeah it's stronger..... [Chorus] The river is my life and death It gives and it takes what it can It puts the food on my table Then it drowns my neighbors and friends Yeah the river is my life and death Blessed hand, cruel command..... [Harmonica] [Verse 3] Fields need that muddy water, need it to survive Corn and rice and soybeans keep this county alive But when that river breaks loose, ain’t no mercy found Sirens sing the blues as the whole town goes down [slide guitar flourish] [Verse 4] I seen names float past me, nailed to broken doors Church bells underwater, Main Street ain’t there no more Ain’t no hundred-year story, this happenin every year Graveyard getting crowded, truth getting clear ooo.... it's all becoming clear..... mmm... [Chorus] The river is my life and death It keeps this Delta fed Same brown water that grows the crops Running through my dreams and dead Yeah the river is my life and death Prayers whispered, tears all said [musical interlude] [Drop] [Foot stomping and Palm muted guitar] [Bridge] Hey State man, you hear this song From a porch light barely on This ain’t fate, this ain’t God This heat and flood been building long. [Harmonica] Call it warming, call it truth Call it what your maps all show If you don’t take this serious We got nowhere left to go.... ....Nowhere..... [Verse 5] Sandbags stacked like tombstones, hope tied with twine Weather don’t respect no borders, no county line River used to be a teacher, slow and deep and wide Now it’s anger rolling downhill, nowhere to hide [Chorus] [Fading Out] The river is my life and death I still need it every day But it’s taking more than it’s giving In a hard and hungry way Yeah the river is my life and death That’s the price we’re made to pay [Fade out]
