Mary almost made it to twenty-nine 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