Stop all this talk, turn off the telephone
Open up another bottle, send those people home
Let it get real quiet, turn that lamp way down low
I'm gonna float down this river of tears

I remember how we spoke on the days he was dry
Even now that he's gone he can make a woman cry
But he saw through me deaf dumb and blind
He knew his way down this river of tears

"Dashed hopes and best intentions" people say
He could sit and drink the way a monk could pray
So grab that silver flask, pour yourself another glass and
Watch me rage down this river of tears

Turn out the stars now, darken every one
Watch the clouds cover that big yellow moon
Close the blinds, mute the sun
There's nowhere left to run

Picked up that old decanter that he used to drink from
Turned on his stereo just to hear it hum
Daddy I'm gonna wrap myself in blankets and listen to you sing
And I'm gonna float down this river of tears