[Intro] (Piano rolling like water, gentle and patient) [Verse 1] I've been the quiet one in the corner seat Smiling through the bitter, tasting sweet defeat But there's a current in me, older than my pain Rising like a river after rain [Pre-Chorus] You can dam the water, but you can't kill the flow What the Good Lord gave me, nobody stole [Chorus] Let the river rise, let it take the town Ain't no wall they built gonna hold this woman down Let the river rise, hear it testify I was born to sing, and I will not apologize [Verse 2] Mama said, "Child, keep your dignity" Even when the world won't let you be So I straighten my spine, I lift my song high Like the morning sun climbing up the sky [Pre-Chorus] You can dam the water, but you can't kill the flow What the Good Lord gave me, nobody stole [Chorus] Let the river rise, let it take the town Ain't no wall they built gonna hold this woman down Let the river rise, hear it testify I was born to sing, and I will not apologize [Bridge] (Piano driving hard, handclaps, voice unleashed) I paid my dues in a minor key Cried my verses, sang my plea Now the music's marching, and I'm free, I'm free [River Break] (Voice soaring over pounding piano) Oh, river, river, carry me home Oh, river, river, I'm done being stone [Final Chorus] Let the river rise, let it take the town Ain't no wall they built gonna hold this woman down Let the river rise, hear it testify I was born to sing, and I will not apologize [Outro] (Piano alone, voice soft and sure) "I was born to sing... mmm... born to sing."
