Walter Brennan - Old Rivers

How old was I when I first seen old Rivers?
I can't remember when he weren't around
Well, that old fellow did a heap of work
Spent his whole life walking plowed ground
He had a one-room shack not far from us
And well, we was about as poor as him
He had one old mule he called Midnight
And I'd trailed along after them
He used to plow them rows straight and deep
And I'd come along near behind
A-bustin' up clods with my own bare feet
Old Rivers was a friend of mine
That sun'd get high and that mule would work
'Til old Rivers'd finally say, "Whoa"
He'd wipe his brow, and lean back on the reins
And talk about a place he's gonna go

He'd say, one of these days, I'm gonna climb that mountain
Walk up there among them clouds
Where the cotton's high and the corn's a-growin'
And there ain't no fields to plow

I got a letter today from the folks back home and
They're all fine, crops is dry
Down at the end, mom said, Son
You know old Rivers died
Just sittin' here now on this new-plowed earth
Trying to find me a little shade
With the sun beatin' down 'cross the fields I see
That mule, old Rivers and me

Now, one of these days, I'm gonna climb that mountain
Walk up there among them clouds
Where the cotton's high and the corn's a-growin'
And there ain't no fields to plow

With the sun beatin' down across the fields I see
That mule, old Rivers and me

Written by:
Clifton T. Crofford

Publisher:
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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