It's been thirty-one years

Since she's been in your arms

But don't worry about Mama

Mama's got a good heart And I'm not looking for your love

I'm only sniffing out blood

Just a little taste of where I came from And at the bottom of this river

Is where I put you down to lay

So I can live with it

And in my heart, heart, heart there are these waters

Where I put you down to lay

While I learn to live with it

Until I'm free And it's been all my life

I've been wondering on the inside

What we could've had

If you'd had a part in my life And there were children involved

And they were brothers to me

Even if we never got to meet And at the bottom of this river

Is where I put you down to lay

So I can live with it

And in my heart, heart, heart there are these waters

Where I put you down to lay

While I learn to live with it

Until I'm Free at last from this shadow that hangs

Surely you wonder sometimes

And I'm sure you all sympathize

Just what a man's to become, just like his daddy's done

I just want to love someone

Who has the same blood And at the bottom of this river

Is where I put you down to lay

So I can live with it

And in my heart, heart, heart there are these waters

Where I put you down to lay

While I learn to live with it

Keepsake, keepsake

Until I'm free