Sweet Jesus
Kenneth Cope Lyrics

There is a river running though this town
A constant reminder of the tragedy that shook this town and took many lives along with it.

It carried the water
The river's flow is unceasing and unpredictable, much like the events it has seen.

There isn't any way to slow it down
The uncontrollable flow of events has changed lives, leaving people with scars and memories they will never forget.

Or make it stop
The events of that day cannot be undone, no matter how much anyone wishes they could.

I was a baby when the big bridge fell
The events of the tragedy are lost to the artist's memory, but the stories have been told numerous times to bring life to those who have been lost.

So I don't remember
The singer is trying to hold on to something that he cannot remember, but he still finds a connection with those who have experienced it firsthand.

But I have listened to the stories well
The singer hopes to capture the essence of the tragedy by holding on to the stories he has been told.

And so I know
The stories told have left an indelible mark on the artist that cannot be erased.

They were falling to the surface
Those who were caught in the tragedy were desperately trying to cling to life.

They were calling to their God
In their moment of need, those who suffered turned to a higher power for hope and salvation.

Sweet Jesus, please won't you catch us, save us
Hope and desperation for salvation from a higher power, in a time of unbearable crisis.

Sweet Jesus, please won't you hear us crying
A plea for help during moments of suffering and pain.

Fishing for luck beneath the bridge that day
The tragedy of that day was not just one, but a series of unfortunate events that would mark many people for life.

A man in his eighties
Despite his age, the man involved in the tragedy was not afraid to take action, knowing he might pay with his own life.

He saw it happen and began to pray
In a moment of tragedy, action and faith go hand in hand.

As he dove in
A moment that would take a lifetime of courage, as he attempted to save those in need.

He found a mother and a baby boy
The tragedy cast a wide net, affecting all walks of life and generations.

They both wouldn't make it
Despite his best efforts, the man could not save everyone.

The mama handed him her only joy
A selfless act in a moment of life and death, demonstrating a mother's love for her child.

He took the child
The man made a decision to do what he had to do, no matter how difficult.

Then he was swimming like he was twenty
In moments of crisis, the impossible can become possible.

He made shoreline then he died
The man paid the ultimate price to save another life.

And his thoughts were
In his final moments, the man's thoughts were focused on the tragedy and the hope for God's grace.

We're all crying
The tragedy united the town in shared pain and loss, an experience that would never be forgotten.

I miss my mother and the brave old man
The singer hopes to find a connection to those who were not afraid to act in the face of tragedy.

Though I never knew them
The singer may not have known them personally, but their actions have left an indelible mark on him.

There are the soul inside the man I am
The experiences of those who lived through the tragedy have become a part of the singer's soul and identity.

I bear their dreams
The artist carries with him the dreams of those who were lost to the tragedy.

And I am waling in their footsteps
The artist hopes to live a life that honors the legacy of those who have seen and suffered from the tragedy.

I am talking to their God
Faith and hope continue to be essential for healing and recovery from pain and loss.

Am my cry is
Despite hope and determination, the singer is still struggling with the pain and losses of the tragedy.

We're all crying
The shared experience of loss continues to unite the town, even years later.

There is a river running through this town
The river serves as a poignant reminder of the tragedy that took place in the town, a physical embodiment of the memories and experiences of those affected.

It carries the water
Despite the tragedy, life goes on, and the river continues its unceasing flow.

There isn't any way to slow it down
In reality, we cannot control the flow of events, but we can choose how to respond and move forward in the face of tragedy.

Or make it stop
The events of the tragedy are unchangeable, but we can choose to honor and learn from them.