Cumberland River Songtext
von Dan Baird

Ragtag man by the Cumberland River
And it′s a bottle and an achin' head
He′s cryin', "I'm comin′ to a bad end
Just like my mama said
Livin′ down to expectations
Broke-down shoes and a Goodwill suit
Gonna end up like my damn daddy
Indigent and destitute"

Oh, that Cumberland River
It's filthy, dirty brown
As it winds its crooked way right through
The heart of this heartless town

Nashville′s an empty promise
Soulless and hard as stone
And if I could just not drink up the bus fare
You bet your sweet life I'd be headed home
I′d be headed back home
I'd be headed home
Mama, I′d be headed back home


Now don't you go down on the lower broad
They ain't got the time of day
You see, they′ll lock you up for guitar and tin cup
Since they opened that Hard Rock Cafe, yeah
Where the tourists pay ten bucks for a burger
But they ain′t got a dime for my song
This used to be hillbilly heaven
Now the cop says, "Son, move along, long, long"

That Cumberland River
Oh, it's filthy, dirty brown
As it winds its crooked way right through
The heart of this heartless town
Nashville′s an empty promise
Soulless and hard as stone
And if I could just not drink up the bus fare
You bet your sweet life I'd be headed home
I′d be headed back home

I'd be goin′ home
Mama, I'd be comin' home

I couldn′t get arrested in my hometown
So I went to Music City to make my stand
I was ready for fame and fortune
After all, this was the promised land
So let me save you some time, son
Take an old fool′s hard-earned advice
Get on back home if you still got one
You sell your soul and that ain't half the price


Oh, that Cumberland River
It′s filthy, dirty brown
As it winds its crooked way right through
The heart of this heartless town
Nashville's an empty promise
Soulless and hard as stone
And if I could just not drink up the bus fare
You bet your sweet life I′d be headed home
I'd be headed back home

I′d be goin' home

Mama, I'm wishin′ I was headed home
That poor old son′ll be headed back home