Don't you go walking by the dried up river bed You don't want to know what sinks and what swims Don't you go poking around the secrets of the folks in town Unless you want to wind up part of what they're in
Don't you go walking by the dried up river bed Stirring up dirt that shouldn't be stirred Don't you go digging round, try your hand to figure out They'll be here when you're gone, they were here first
Sticks and stones and broken bones and words that will never be told Rumored tales and echoed wails that will make your blood run cold Just because the stories are old doesn't mean that they've reached their end
Don't go to bed without putting on the door latch Put on the window lock and the front poor light Don't creep around the sleeping town, dare to make a peep or sound Just draw the shades and stay out of sight
Don't be believing that you'll be leaving And don't you go thinking what you know is true The sun is setting and you can be betting That what they are you'll be too
Whispered fears for years and years, heard by none and all You will find you'll toe that line when it's your turn to heed the call Just because the stories are old doesn't mean that they're not about you
Don't you go walking by the dried up river bed You don't want to know what sinks and don't swim You've been poking around the secrets of the folks in town Now you are what has been