A mean river who you swallowin' whole
A mean river who you swallowin' whole
Was it me and my father all alone
Don't swallow your only son
No, you don't swallow up your only son
No, you don't swallow your only son
Oh I know that you're an angry wolf,
And I can hear you howling at the moon
And I think you're tryna harmonize
But you sing out in an empty room
Oh, you know I used to love those songs
They still wash over me, and I'm laughing along
And I swim out 'til my feet are off the bottom
And I let your fury carry me south to the sea
A mean river who you swallowin' whole
A mean river who you swallowin' whole
Was it me and my father all alone
Why, you don't swallow your only son
I grew up and left your bank
To find out where your waters begin
Ah, but farther up, by god,
I found these waters getting thinner and thinner
They're still coursing from the soul of the mountain
They feed that rock the way my blood feeds my heart
And here without you I think I might be starving
I need the fury of your white waters
A mean river who you swallowin' whole
A mean river who you swallowin' whole
Was it me and my father all alone
Why, you don't swallow your only son
Why, you don't swallow your only son
A mean river who you swallowin' whole
A mean river who you swallowin' whole
Was it me and my father all alone
Why you don't swallow your only son
No, you don't swallow up your only son
No, you don't swallow your only son