[Chorus]
Lord, I'm going uptown
To the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water gonna cover me over
And I'm not gonna make a sound

[Verse 1]
I'm on a roll, mama, I gotta go
Gotta get there while I still can
Troubled days are behind me now
And I know they're gonna let me in

[Verse 2]
When you see me walking up the FDR
Just a-singing and a-clapping my hands
Tell my mama I love her, tell my father I tried
Give my money to my baby to spend

[Chorus]
'Cause Lord, I'm going uptown
To the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water gonna cover me over
And I'm not gonna make a sound

[Verse 3]
Good times come and they go
Even a good man'll break
He'll let his troubles bury him whole
Even though he knows what's at stake
[Verse 4]
So I'm taking no chances
Carrying over while I'm still good in His grace
And I'm no fool, mama, I know the difference
Between tempting and choosing my fate

[Chorus]
So Lord, I'm going uptown
To the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water gonna cover me over
And I'm not gonna make a sound

[Chorus]
Lord, I'm going uptown
To the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water gonna cover me over
And I'm not gonna make a sound

[Chorus]
Lord, I'm going uptown
To the Harlem River to drown
Dirty water gonna cover me over
And I'm not gonna make a sound