Just a young man in an old steel town
I'm getting older now, it's time to look around
My brother John loves his needle & spoon
A cigarette hangs from his lip
Everyone ‘round thinks he's so bad
He's really not that cool, no

And I know the reasons why
Deep inside he's not alive
He was born by a river
You know he'll die by the river now
‘Cause deep inside my river's run dry

So many times did mother swallow her pride
Just to keep my old man's dreams alive
And I know, and I know someday we're gonna move on outta here
She says "Jesus, Lord, don't give me no bad thoughts and bury me here."

And I know the reasons why, and I know the reasons why
She was born by a river
Her blood flows through the river now
And deep inside my river's run dry
She was born by a river
Her blood flows through the river now
‘Cause deep inside my river's run dry

Oh, take hold my hand and pray
Someday baby we're gonna find a way
Oh, oh

I know the reasons why
‘Cause deep inside she lost her life
Yeah, yeah, yeah

She was born by a river
Her blood flows through the river now
Deep inside the river's run dry
She was born by a river
You know, we'll die by the river now
‘Cause deep inside my river's run dry
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
Ooh, yeah

We're born by the river now
You know, she'll die by the river now
Yeah, yeah, huummm