On a Friday night where I grew up
There ain't a whole lot you can do
The same ole' faces the same ole' places

Ain't nothin' ever new
After the football game we'd hang around
The high school parking lot

Then we'd pile into a couple of cars
And head off to our favorite spot


Down to the river
We went to the river


My Sophomore year was a carbon copy
Of the ones that came before
'Til a night in late November

That shook us all down to the core

We'd won the game by twenty points

Couldn't wait to celebrate
But our lead car was goin' way too fast
They never even hit the breaks

They went into the river
Deep in the river


We buried Laurie Mabrey
In the clothes that she'd been wearin'
Her cheerleader outfit never looked

So out of place

That sweater and that pleated skirt

Of blue and white and crimson
Just didn't belong in that shiny silver case


I moved here to Nashville
On May 12th '89
And I started gettin' letters once a week

From this friend of mine

I'd gone to school with Christine Thuro

From kindergarten on
She'd say hang in there 'cause
I just know you're gonna be a star

She and her boyfriend and a couple of kids
I guess she met through him
Set out for the Marais Des Cygne

To try to cool off by takin' a swim

There'd been a lot of rain that summer

And the current was too strong
I heard that they did all they could
But Christine she was gone


Into the river
She died there in the river


I was baptized in that same water
Gave my soul to Jesus

How can such a peaceful place
Be filled with so much pain


'Cause two young mothers lost their daughters
Right there for no reason
I swear I'll never go down there again


Back to the river
That mean ole' river

That beautiful river
That damn ole' river
That damn ole' river