I left my home at fifteen 

I wore this very same coat 

My mama said, "Son, if you stay on this path,

You'll find a river full of money where the rich fish flow"

I said, "I'll catch me them fish"

And I've searched low and searched high 



Well, I've seen more water than Columbus had seen 

I found me this lake that was greener than green 

I said, "Mama, I know this is what you mean"

But when I bent for a sip, the river ran dry 

The river won't flow for me no no no 

The river won't flow for me no no no no 



I live my life on the up and up 

And this is where I was meant to be 

But the river don't 

The river won't 

Flow for me 



I never had me no house 

I never had me no phone 

I never had much that I didn't have to go 

And fight for the right to call it my own 



I don't expect any help 

I don't expect nothing free 

It's not about being any righteous man 

It's not about God and the master plan 

It's not about doing the best I can 

No, this corner was where I was meant to be 



‘Cause the river won't flow for me no no no 

The river won't flow for me no no no no 

It's just one of the little lessons 

That I learned on my Mama's knee 

The river don't 

The river won't 

Flow for me 



It's all luck,

It's just luck 

There's no way you can rig the game because 

It's all luck,

It's just luck 

The sinner and the saint could wind up the same ‘cause 

It's all luck,

It's just luck 

That decides between the noose and the knife 

It's all luck,

It's just luck 

When you're begging to switch 

With some rich son-of-a-bitch 

Who ain't never done nothing to deserve that life 



It seems so easy to run 

Until there's nowhere to go 

You never get much for the dues you pay 

You never go far on the easy way 

There isn't much choice 

But to kneel and pray 

For the river, the river, the river 

To flow, flow, flow, flow, flow 

Flow, flow, flow, flow, flow, flow 

Flow 



But the river won't flow for you no no no 

The river won't flow for you no no no no 

You gotta live how you gotta live 

You gotta do what you gotta do 

‘Cause the river 

The river don't 

The river won't 

The river can't 

Ain't never ever gonna flow for you 

Never gonna flow for you 

Never gonna flow for you 

Never gonna flow for you