The ladies would put the baskets on the table
And the men would sit beneath a shady tree
The children would listen to a fable

While something else came through to me

The river got no end

Just roll around the bend
Then pretty soon the women would all join in
On the river hymn


The whole congregation was standing
On the banks of the river

We are gathered here
To give a little thanks thanks


The voice of the rapids will echo
And ricochet like an old water well
Who'd ever want to let go

Once you sit beneath its spell

It's dark and wide and deep

Towards the sea it creeps
I'm so glad I brought along my mandolin
To play the river hymn


You can ride on it or drink it
Poison it or damn it fish in it and wash in it

Swim in it and you can die in it
Run you river run


Son you ain't never seen yourself
No crystal mirror can show it clear come over here instead
Son you ain't never eased yourself

Till you laid it down in a river bed

If you hear a lonesome drone

It's as common as a stone
And gets louder as the day grows dim
That's the river hymn


The whole congregation was standing
On the banks of the river

We are gathered here
To give a little thanks thanks