No one ever loved that river, rain from The highlands a mirror for the Cajun moon A road without a memory of anything That started out as blue Well you can pour me like a jug of wine Into the gulf of Mexico, honey Unitil the end of time but no one ever loved That river the way I love you You move with your own rhythm Like a tide on the river lightning on the Ponchatrain The way you come to me a midnight Warm and naked as the rain What were you whispering down at Natchez Cause it muddied up my mind About some great ocean going to make you Leave it all behind well, no one ever loved That river the way I love you You've got land above the salt line, Bougainvillea in you hair The barges poles for New Orleans You said you'd leave without a care But the rumour on the river is anything That touches you will be free But I know you can't be free Well, you know you can never leave this river Without me Your eyes them flash defiance, they will not wait Upon my word draw my eyes across the skyline Like some long and graceful bird Your lips have known me better, honey And that satin ball of fire turns to blue I cannot leave this river, I will not leave this river Without you no one ever loved that river, No one ever loved that river the way I love you