Tennessee River Runs Low

If I were born to be a river
If a river is all I'd be
I'd tell the giver of all of the rivers
To make me the Tennessee

How many drops of rain roll
Off of how many windowpanes
Down to a valley low
Where a river like me begins to grow
I sing a mournful song
As I rush and ramble along
Oh dee oh dee oh dee oh
Oh dee oh dee oh dee, oh

I bury secrets deep
I keep them down where the catfish creep
Where the rolling tide
Can't reach the things that I hide
I hum a mournful tune
In the Alabama June
Oh dee oh dee oh dee
Oh dee oh dee oh dee, oh

And I sing
Oh dee, dee dee dee
Oh doo, doo doo doo
Oh oh, oh oh oh
Even the Tennessee river runs low

When the sky is bright and clear
Not a cloud above you
You can float in knowing, dear
That I was made to love you
When the storm is raging
All the light is fading
The river sings along with me
Reaching for that minor key

Color me blue and gray
River, carry me fast away
Flood all the rocks and grills
On for the mighty hill
I am the Tennessee
See you down at the stormy sea
Oh dee oh dee oh dee
Oh dee oh dee oh dee, oh

And I sing
Oh dee, dee dee dee
Oh doo, doo doo doo
Oh oh, oh oh oh
Even the Tennessee river runs low
The Tennessee river runs low
Even the Tennessee river runs low