Down the River to the Sea

DOWN THE RIVER TO THE SEA

My Mama said she gonna up and tie to a tree
My Daddy said he gonna whoop the Jesus into me
I went on the run and I bought myself a gun
Started havin' fun underneath the settin' Sun
I still can't remember how the Work was gettin' done
Chewin' on a match while I was polishin' my gun
Headed down to catch a man before the Day was done
Me and all the boys are gonna have ourselves some fun

Daddy doin' time up in the Penitentiary
Pullin' 99 for Aggravated Robbery
Delta Queen from New Orleans
Will be the death of me
So I drifted down the River
To the Sea, to the Sea
I drifted down the River to the Sea

I got aboard a Riverboat
The Mississippi Belle
Southern Pride on the Western Side
Of the Outer Banks of Hell
Daybreak come that Sunday Mornin'
Should have listened to the warnin'
Do the Crime or drop the Dime
Don't waste Time when you cross that Line

I've been on the run since I was barely 17
Notches on my Gun all from the Land of In Between
Chase 'em down and cash 'em in
Come on, let the games begin
We all die, just can't say when
Rolling down that Riverbend
When we make it to the End
Everything begins again

We come into this very world
Alone, without a friend
We'll recognize that Little Girl
When she comes around the bend
She will come and take your hand
And Forever stand beside her Man
Tell her that you understand
Walk with Her across the Sand

Nothing we can do can change
What the Wicked Fates allow
Just be faster than the Man
Who has come to take you Down
You might be a Hero
All over this Town
Or you might be a Zero Lyin' 6 feet Underground

The People in the Courtyard
Of the Southern Baptist Church
Are lighting up a Funeral Pyre
Of Willow Bark and Birch
Hear the Children singing
Like the Wind is in the Trees
Glory Hallelujah
As you fall down on your knees

Love's a Bounty Hunter
That is coming after me
Love will put me underneath
A Sentinel Oak Tree
Love's the only reason
You would ever be with Me
As we float down the River
To the Sea, to the Sea
As we float down the River to the Sea

When the Night was over, we made our Getaway
We headed up the River as the Night turned into Day
We made it all the way up there,  into the North Country
And that's the last they ever saw
Of my Little Girl and Me

We settled in right by the Sea
Below the Frontier Boundary
Set our sights on another Night
Beneath the Northern Lights

That's my Story, all I got
I know that it is not a lot
I'm more about my Family
Then I am about my History
The Books will always get it wrong
But you can count on me
You can even come along
Down the River to the Sea
Come along with Me
Down the River to the Sea

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