He said, "Grab any stool, put your belly to the bar"
I'm not such a fool, I know just who you are
It's been too many years and not enough time
Have a cup of my tears, they've been watered with wine
I am the drowning man, I am the drowning man

There once was a girl, every story starts that way
She lit up my world like a fireworks display
And the flame drew me near but it frightened me more
So I met her with water and I rained 'til I poured
Now I am the drowning man, I am the drowning man

I'm drowning in jiggers and I'm drowning in smoke
I'm drowning in rivers where the fish gasp and choke
I have drowned my tomorrows just to drown out my past
Now I drown all my sorrows at the bottom of this glass
'Cause I am the drowning man, I am the drowning man

I won't die for money and I won't die for love
And I won't die for beauty or the good lord above
But I'll die for a dream whose heart is engraved
In the rocks and the reefs of my watery grave
I am the drowning man, I am the drowning man