Seen her get up, seen her go down Down to the riverside Seen her jump into the river and drown Down to the riverside People do just what they will Don't matter to the river, it's running still
Sun come up, sun go down Down to the riverside Sun jump into the river and drown Down to the riverside Every day just like the last We sit and watch the water pass
Came a day the built a bridge Down to the riverside Over the way, on top of the ridge Down to the riverside Built a bridge for people to cross But every other day, someone jumping off
You might think some boys they got it made Down to the riverside They got the money and the women and a place in the shade Down to the riverside That ain't no way to ease the pain Can't listen to the river when it calls your name