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 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 gone and carried them away|Mean ol' river carried them down to their grave||Mean ol' river gone and carried them away|Mean ol' river gone and carried them away|Mean ol' river carried them down to their grave