[Verse 1]
Mary almost made it to twenty-nine
The mother of an orphan and a friend of mine
Painted up with high heels on her feet
Making what she could from this filthy street

[Chorus]
Dead on the river yesterday
Been gutted like some varmint, so they say
With a tangled rope around her, she was bound
Dead on the river, rolling down

[Verse 2]
Well, I was quotin' scripture at an early age
The old man ruled his household in a gospel rage
Up and down our hallway, the Bible spilled
Left behind a sinner in the mill and field

[Chorus]
Dead on the river yesterday
I don't know how much longer that I can stay
They're saying now there were two more bodies found
Dead on the river, rolling down

[Verse 3]
The Feds are in their best suits, pulling rank
Scattered out with their bloodhounds along the bank
And the city lights, they flicker on the one-lane bridge
The siren echoes bouncing along the ridge
[Chorus]
Dead on the river yesterday
I need a flood to wash my sins away
Like an ancient hickory, twisted, turning brown
Dead on the river, rolling down