Long ago and far away the river was made
I was a young boy, I was fishing on the riverbank
And I learned my fair share on how to grow up fast
And I didn't even know it back then, but a river ran through it

Seventeen by now, wild and free
Fell in love with a siren on the banks of the Coeur d'Alene
That pretty little river queen turned me into a man
And when my heart was broke, I didn't know but a river ran through it

So, roll on mighty river just roll on, wash away my sins
Show me the way back home
No, I don't, no I don't know much about this life, but this is true
At the end of it all we'll merge into one and a river runs through it

Further down the line I was runnin' from the law
I forgot who I was and made a bad turn in Arkansas
But I found revival in a Rocky Mountain stream
And when my soul came through, I finally knew that a river runs through it

So, roll on mighty river just roll on, wash away my sins
Show me the way back home
No, I don't, no I don't know much about this life, but this is true
At the end of it all we'll merge into one and a river runs through it

I'm an old man now, my hair is turnin' grey
I made it to the river where I'll spend my final days
And I watch the water flow by like my life's being played out
And I pray that the Lord will float me home while a river runs through it
So, roll on mighty river just roll on, wash away my sins
Show me the way back home
No, I don't, no I don't know much about this life, but this is true
At the end of it all we'll merge into one and a river runs through it
Lord, at the end of it all, I swear that a river runs through it