I was born by a river

Rolling past a town

Given no direction

Just told to keep my head down.

As I took my position

A man fired a gun

I was so steeped in tradition

That I could not run.



I was raised by a river

Weaned upon the sky

And in the mirror of the waters

I saw myself learn to cry.

As my tears hit the surface

I saw what had been done.

I gave feet to my freedom

And I did run.



Someday later

I saw the writing in the dust

It told me how I should travel

It told me who I was.

I ran far from the river

Far as I could see

And as the sun hit my shoulders

I felt it burning me.



How I longed for the waters

As the fire raged

How I longed for the river

As I aged.

I will die by a river

As it rolls away

Bury me in the nighttime

Do not waste the day.



High above the waters

That roll on to the sea.

All the angels in heaven will

laugh at me.

They will laugh at me.



My life was naught but a river

Rolling through my brain

Made of so many teardrops

Made of so much pain.