[Intro / Hook – START HERE] When the sun goes down and it gets real cold Play your cards, boy, don’t you fold Stay on the river, don’t let go That water knows what you don’t know [Verse 1] Life talks soft if you listen close Through the bends where the wild trees grow Every man’s got a current inside Some fight it hard, some let it ride The river don’t promise peace Only truth if you stay long enough to see It’ll take your pride, leave you marked Then hand you back who you are [Chorus] When the light fades out and the air turns thin Hold your breath, let the long night in When your thoughts run loud and the cold creeps slow Don’t believe every fear you know Stay on the river, stay aware Even lost is still somewhere If you keep floatin’, if you stay fair You’ll find your way — I swear [Verse 2 – SHORT] You might run aground in the sand But that ain’t where a man should stand Shake it off, keep movin’ on Home’s still there if you drift along [Final Chorus – STRIP IT DOWN] Stay on the river, don’t let go Even when the tide stays low No map, no sign, just faith and time That river knows what’s yours to find [Outro] Stay on the river Don’t fold
