In that city where I grew up I had a lady and my life was full of life I had a baby, so fine and fair But that river killed them all down there Mean ol' river gone and carried them away Mean ol' river carried them down to their grave I miss my mother, I miss my papa, too I miss my brother with all the bad things that he do I miss my sister, her long brown hair And I hate the river that killed them all down there Mean ol' river gone and carried them away Mean ol' river carried them down to their grave