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Where This River Runs
Inspired by life at either end of the James River, and how easy it is sometimes to overlook our most obvious connections.
AM - lead and ensemble vocals
Chas Fowler - pipes and whistles
Randy Barrett - lead baritone
John Rickard - lead tenor
Les Thompson - ensemble vocals
Words & music A. McKnight, ©1997 Catalooch Music, BMI
Verse 1
Mister can you tell me where this rushing river runs
I am a child of these mountains, and a coal miner’s son
they call us hillbillies, when we go to town
I know I’d be much more, if I trace this river down
Verse 2
They say the earth is flat, many miles east of here
and a bloody civil war was fought, past one hundred years
legend says this river’s mouth, is many miles wide
but I’m a poor miner’s son, and by this river I should die
Bridge
This great rushing temptress, this lady James she goes,
in search of flatter land, and of deep ocean flows
I trace this riverbank, to my old plantation home
where seven generations of family, blood and sweat have flowed
Verse 3
Mister can you tell me from where this great river comes
I am a child of tobacco, and a poor sharecrop’s son
legend says there’s mountains many miles west of here
but I’m a poor sharecrop’s son, legend’s all they are I fear,
and mister can you tell me, does my river ever leave, here
