Old Rivers

Dave Dudley

Compositor: Cliff Crofford

How old was I when I first seen Old Rivers
Well I can't remember when he wandered around
That old fellow he did a heap of work
He spent his whole life walkin' plowed ground

He had the one roomed shack out not far from us
Well we's about as poor as him
And he had one old mule he called him Midnight
And I'd tread along after then

He'd plow them rows just straight and deep
And I'd follow along behind
I'd be bustin' up plows with my own bare feet
But Old Rivers he was a friend of mine

Now that sun would get high and that old mule he'd work
Finally Old Rivers he'd say whoa
He'd wipe his brow and he'd been back on them reins
Then he'd talk about that place he was gonna go

One of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain
Gonna walk up there among them plows
Where that cotton's high and that corn's a growin'
There ain't no fields to plow

[ piano ]
I got a letter today it's from the folks back home
And their all fine crops is dry
Down near the end mom said son you know Old Rivers died

Well I'm sittin' here now on this new plowed earth
Just lookin' for a little shade
With that sun beatin' down cross them fields
I see that mule Old Rivers and me

Now one of these days ...
(With the sun bent down cross the fields I see)
That mule Old Rivers and me