It's three miles to the river 

That would carry me away 

And two miles to the dusty street 

That I saw you on today. 

It's four miles to my lonely room 

Where I will hide my face 

And about half a mile to the downtown bar 

That I ran from in disgrace. 

Lord how long have I got to keep on running 

Seven hours seven days or seven years? 

All I know is since you've been gone 

I feel like I'm drowning in a river, 

Drowning in a river of tears. 

Drowning in a river. 

Feel like I'm drowning, 

Drowning in a river. 

In three more days, I'll leave this town 

And disappear without a trace. 

A year from now, maybe settle down 

Where no one knows my face. 

I wish that I could hold you 

One more time to ease the pain, 

But my time's run out and I got to go, 

Got to run away again. 

Still I catch myself thinking, 

One day I'll find my way back here. 

You'll save me from drowning, 

Drowning in a river, 

Drowning in a river of tears. 

Drowning in a river. 

Feels like I'm drowning, 

Drowning in the river. 

Lord, how long must this go on? 

Drowning in a river, 

Drowning in a river of tears.