[Verse 1]
I've been watching the man at the bar
With his head in his hands
And I think to myself, "I was just like you"
I can see there are times in your life
When it's way too much for you
The battles you wear, or the armor you choose
When I first fill my lungs in the morning
I try to remember to say a quiet "thank you"
And if I rise with a weight in my heart
I like to play myself a sweet little tune

[Chorus]
And I feel those cool rivers
Washing all over me
And I know these smooth rhythms
Make me move my feet
Oh you give me those soul shivers
Taking me back to the days
When music was a life-giver
Make a bad man change his ways

[Post-Chorus]
Cool rivers
Soul shivers
I can feel those smooth rhythms
Make a bad man change, a bad man change his ways
[Verse 2]
I've seen men who sleep at the side of the road
With a smile upon their face
I heard old men sing with youth in their voice
When that old-time record plays
I seen young boys learning their first steps
To the sound of those drum breaks
And I heard the sound that accompanies
So many first mistakes

[Chorus]
Still, I feel those cool rivers
Washing all over me
And I know these smooth rhythms
Make me move my feet
Oh you give me those soul shivers
Taking me back to the days
When music was a life-giver
Make a bad man change his ways

[Post-Chorus]
Oh, I see those cool rivers
Soul shivers
I can feel those smooth rhythms
Make a bad man change, a bad man change his ways