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I was 18 my brother was 21
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One saturday evenin when all the work was done
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We went down to the river we had some trot lines to run
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My brother walter had a fight the week before
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Knocked a boy named wilson through the pool hall door
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They said you dont mess with wilson unless you want a war
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I put the boat in the water and i made the engine run
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I loaded the lantern against the sinking sun
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And my brother walter was loading his gun
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And we went down the river
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Down past the coal docks we were running our lines
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Heard some drunken boaters racing up behind
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It was wilson and his cousin they had trouble on their minds
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They passed on by us probably going to tend their pots
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We headed up the river with the fish we'd caught
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But before we made the landing i thought i heard a shot
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Back down the river
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My brother walter fell over the side
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And i couldnt find him no matter how i tried
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And i looked along the bank but i couldnt find where they'd hide
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They drug the river they searched it up and down
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Couldnt find his body so they decided that he'd drowned
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But i knew better cause wilson bragged around town
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So one night i floated down right above wilsons shack
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I hid in the woods untill i saw him walk out back
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I put a bullet in his head and dropped him in his tracks
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Then we went down the river
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Down below the trestle where the water runs slow
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I chained him to an anvil then i let him go
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And five years later well i aint told a soul
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And i aint done much fishin i hardly wet a line
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The death of my brother is still heavy on my mind
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I've been thinking wilsons cousin better find a place to hide
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Cause i'm goin down the river yeah i'm goin down the river
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