Two young lovers
With their bodies on fire
Achin' to swim
That river of desire

Leavin' innocence there
On the bank by their clothes
A man holdin' on to
A woman lettin' go

There's a man with a bottle
On the other side of town
Swimmin' with a memory
That he can't drown

Lord, it ain't sunk in
That she ain't comin' home
Oh, a man holdin' on to
A woman lettin' go

His heart is tellin' him
To hang on for dear life
'Cause deep down he knows
She's lettin' go for good this time

There's a daddy walkin'
His daughter down the aisle
Fightin' back tears
And forcin' a smile

Oh, for 22 years
He's watched her grow
A man holdin' on to
A woman lettin' go

In the Hill Valley home
There's a feeble old man
And he's holdin' on to
A fragile old hand

And the angels are comin'
To carry her home
Now he's a man holdin' on to
A woman lettin' go

His heart is tellin' him
To hang on for dear life
'Cause deep down he knows
She's lettin' go for good this time

Two young lovers
With their bodies on fire
Achin' to swim
That river of desire

Leavin' innocence there
On the bank by their clothes
Oh, a man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go

A man holdin' on
To a woman
A woman lettin' go