Lyr Req: Old River (Hazel Dickens)

Subject: Lyr Req: Old River by Hazel Dickens
From: GUEST,hg
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 10:34 PM

Anyone have these lyrics?

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD RIVER (Hazel Dickens)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 07:12 PM

From Working Girl Blues: The Life and Music of Hazel Dickens by Hazel Dickens & Bill C. Malone (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2008), page 65:


OLD RIVER
Hazel Dickens

Old river, you're wide, you're deep and cold.
You make a lonesome old sound as onward you roll.
'Neath the crest of your waves I know I could sleep
And forget all this sorrow he's brought to me.

Many's the time and many's the night
We sat here talking, making things right.
You heard every vow; you heard all our plans.
Old river, I know that you'll understand.

The dawn is breaking on sea and on land
As I write my farewell upon your sand.
Your waves will embrace me; my body you'll claim.
Old river, old river, you're callin' my name.

Oh, the ways of love is oft times bold
Like the hearts of lovers when love turns cold.
River, old river, your depths dark and deep
In a watery grave forever I'll sleep.


[YouTube has a recording of James King singing OLD RIVER, taken from the album "Blue Ribbon Bluegrass" (1993). It sticks pretty close to the above lyrics.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old River (Hazel Dickens)
From: Janie
Date: 17 Jan 11 - 12:22 AM

Thanks Jim, I did some searching but could find it.

Not one of my favorites for Hazel Dickens, but I don't think that woman has ever written a bad song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old River (Hazel Dickens)
From: GUEST,hg
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 07:59 AM

thank you, hg