My mother came to hazard when I was just seven Even then the folks in town said with prejudiced eyes That boy's not right three years ago when I came to know Mary First time that someone looked beyond the rumors and the lies, and saw the man inside
We used to walk down by the river She loved to watch the sun go down We used to walk along the river And dream our way out of this town
No one understood what I felt for Mary No one cared until the night she went out walking alone And never came home Man with a badge came knocking next morning Here was I surrounded by a thousand fingers suddenly Pointed right at me I swear I left her by the river I swear I left her safe and sound I need to make it to the river And leave this old Nebraska town
I think about my life gone by How it's done me wrong There's no escape for me this time All of my rescues are gone, long gone
I swear I left her by the river I swear I left her safe and sound I need to make it to the river And leave this old Nebraska town
