He was my brother born the day I left He took the mother lode and I took the rest He was a fighter, he was always in control He kept a candle burning way down in his soul Shots fired in anger and a widow cries alone Just one more mother's son who won't be coming home They speak in whispers there are riders to the east The blind man says mister bring a bottle and a priest That's the way it always goes That's the way it's always been Who you are or what you know You're like a feather in the wind Let the river wash you away Reach the river if you can Past the blue and past the grey All the way, all the way All the way to no man's land There was no shelter there was nowhere left to run They came like eagles screaming down out of the sun I heard the whistle sound the engine pulled away I saw my brother down and I left him where he lay Some fight for honor there are those that fight for gold Some die believing all the fairy tales they're told There are no heroes and there is no marching bang There are no miracles down here in no man's land That's the way it always goes That's the way it's always been Who you are or what you know You're like a feather in the wind Let the river wash you away Reach the river if you can Past the blue and past the grey All the way, all the way All the way to no man's land (Let the river wash away) (Let the river wash away) That's the way it always goes That's the way it's always been Who you are or what you know You're like a feather in the wind Let the river wash you away Reach the river if you can Past the blue and past the grey All the way, all the way All the way to no man's land (Let the river wash away) let the river wash away (Let the river wash away) let the river wash away (Let the river wash away) let the river wash away Let the river wash away Let the river wash away