Dead on the River (Rolling Down)

Mary almost made it to 29

The mother of an orphan and a friend of mine

Painted up with high heels on her feet

Making what she could from this filthy street

Dead on the river yesterday

Been gutted like some varmint, so they say

With a tangled rope around her, she was bound

Dead on the river, rolling down

Well, I was quotin' scripture at an early age

The old man ruled his household in a gospel rage

Up and down our hallway, the Bible spilled

Left behind a sinner in the mill and field

Dead on the river yesterday

I don't know how much longer that I can stay

They're saying now there were two more bodies found

Dead on the river, rolling down

The Feds are in their best suits, pulling rank

Scattered out with their bloodhounds along the bank

And the city lights, they flicker on the one-lane bridge

The siren echoes bouncing along the ridge

Dead on the river yesterday

I need a flood to wash my sins away

Like an ancient hickory, twisted, turning brown

Dead on the river, rolling down