When the last rose of summer pricks my finger

And the hot sun chills me to the bone

When I can't hear the song for the singer

And I can't tell my pillow from a stone



I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own



When the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain

And the stars start to splatter in the sky

When the moon splits the southwest horizon

With the scream of an eagle on the fly



I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And listen to the ripples as they moan

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own



Black muddy river

Roll on forever

I don't care how deep or wide

If you got another side

Roll muddy river, roll muddy river

Black muddy river roll



Black muddy river

Roll on forever

I don't care how deep or wide

If you got another side

Roll muddy river, roll muddy river

Black muddy river roll



When it seems like the night will last forever

And there's nothing left to do but count the years

When the strings of my heart start to sever

And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears



I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And dream me a dream of my own

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

And sing me a song of my own