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May The River Run Dry

from The Law and the Lonesome by Jonathan Byrd

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lyrics

May the River Run Dry Corin Raymond and Jonathan Byrd

Black crow lighting on your old, crooked tree,
where have you flown and whose bones did you see?
May the river run dry if you lie.
Mister, I won’t lie to you, I’ve flown to Mexico.
I’ve flown to places only crows and outlaws know.
May the river run dry if I lie.
May the river run dry if I lie to you.

You better shoulder your gun and prepare.
Water and saddle your mare.
There’s two riders coming. I can just see their dust in the air.
Cross my heart and hope to die it’s true.
May the river run dry if I lie to you.

I looked out to the south and the crow said to me,
Devil’s Island Eddie and the Boone Kid are free.
May the river run dry if I lie.
Eddie’s blood is bad, so poisoned with pride,
a rattlesnake bit him, crawled off and died.
May the river run dry if I lie.
May the river run dry if I lie to you.

You better shoulder your gun and prepare.
Water and saddle your mare.
Look again now; even you’ll see their dust in the air.
Sure as I was born to die it’s true.
May the river run dry if I lie to you.

The wind died, a shot rang, and all there was to see
was a black crow falling from his old, crooked tree.
May the river run dry if I lie.
It’s good to see you, Eddie, I just got the word.
Nobody knows but this black and twisted bird.
May the river run dry if I lie.
May the river run dry if I lie to you.

Everything is prepared.
I’ve watered and saddled the mares.
We’ll wait here ‘til nightfall and tomorrow we’ll each have our share.
Every man will get what he’s due.
May the river run dry if I lie to you.

Sure as we were born to die it’s true.
May the river run dry if I lie to you.

credits

from The Law and the Lonesome, released January 1, 2009

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about

Jonathan Byrd Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Preacher's kid, Gulf War veteran, award-winning songwriter, Youtuber, teacher, and creativity coach from North Carolina.

“One of the top 50 songwriters of the last 50 years. ” — Chicago Tribune

“...a folk singer with the heart of a rock 'n' roll band.” — K. Oliver, Free Times.
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