Old Rivers

How old was I when I first seen Old Rivers

Well I can't remember when he wandered around

That old fellow he did a heap of work

He spent his whole life walkin' plowed ground

He had the one roomed shack out not far from us

Well we's about as poor as him

And he had one old mule he called him Midnight

And I'd tread along after then

He'd plow them rows just straight and deep

And I'd follow along behind

I'd be bustin' up plows with my own bare feet

But Old Rivers he was a friend of mine

Now that sun would get high and that old mule he'd work

Finally Old Rivers he'd say whoa

He'd wipe his brow and he'd been back on them reins

Then he'd talk about that place he was gonna go

One of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain

Gonna walk up there among them plows

Where that cotton's high and that corn's a growin'

There ain't no fields to plow

[ piano ]

I got a letter today it's from the folks back home

And their all fine crops is dry

Down near the end mom said son you know Old Rivers died

Well I'm sittin' here now on this new plowed earth

Just lookin' for a little shade

With that sun beatin' down cross them fields

I see that mule Old Rivers and me

Now one of these days ...

(With the sun bent down cross the fields I see)

That mule Old Rivers and me