The River
Erwin Nyhoff Lyrics

i come from down in the valley
I am from a place of little hope and opportunity

Where mister when you're young
As a boy, I was brought up in a culture that told me to follow in my father's footsteps

They bring you up to do like your daddy done
I was taught to emulate my father's choices and lifestyle

Me and Mary we met in high school
I met my wife, Mary, when we were both in high school

When she was just seventeen
At the time, Mary was only 17 years old

We'd drive out of this valley down to where the fields were green
We would escape the bleakness of our hometown by driving to the countryside where the scenery was more beautiful

We'd go down to the river
We would often visit the river

And into the river we'd dive
We would swim in the river

Oh down to the river we'd ride
We enjoyed traveling to the river together

Then I got Mary pregnant
I impregnated Mary

And man that was all she wrote
This event changed the course of our lives significantly

And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat
As a result of my new responsibilities, I was quickly thrust into adulthood and married Mary

We went down to the courthouse
We had a legal wedding at the courthouse

And the judge put it all to rest
The judge finalized our marriage

No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle
Our wedding was without any of the traditional joyful moments

No flowers no, wedding dress
We had no wedding attire or decorations

That night we went down to the river
After the wedding, we visited the river once again

And into the river we'd dive
We swam together in the river

I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company
I found employment as a construction worker for Johnstown Company

But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy
Due to poor economic conditions, there were few job opportunities

Now all them things that seemed so important
Things that once seemed so significant to me

Well mister they vanished right into the air
Disappeared without a trace

Now I just act like I don't remember
I try to forget about the past

Mary acts like she don't care
My wife, Mary, also pretends like everything is fine

But I remember us riding in my brother's car
I can't forget the memories of Mary and I driving in my brother's car

Her body tanned and wet down at the reservoir
I remember Mary's golden tanned skin being wet from swimming at the reservoir

At night on them banks I'd lie awake
I remember laying on the riverbank at night, unable to fall asleep

And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take
I drew Mary close so I could feel her every breath

Now those memories come back to haunt me
These memories from the past torment me in the present

They haunt me like a curse
The memories feel like a heavy burden or negative influence in my life

Is a dream a lie if it don't come true
I question whether a dream that is not realized is false

Or is it something worse
Or is the truth of the matter even more distressing?

That sends me down to the river
Regardless of the answer to my question, I still find myself drawn to the river

Though I know the river is dry
Despite the fact that the river no longer flows with water

That sends me down to the river tonight
I am driven to visit the river once again, even though it won't be the same as before

Down to the river
To the river

My baby and I
Together with my wife

Oh down to the river we ride
We journey to the river once again