Trinity River Bottom Land

It was just these seven days ago when the first small clouds they came
Wasn't too very long after that when the sky began to rain
We turned our smiles into the wind 'cause the last few months were dry
Now the river would run full again, so our cattle would not die

Midnight, four days later is when the river broke her bounds
Washed all of our crops away, the cattle mostly drowned
'Bout first light this morning is when a raging torrent came
And took our home and washed our simple life right down the drain

Now the river, she just rolls on the same way she's always gone
Ever since my family came and took this land
Daddy always used to say, "The water will give, then turn and take it all away"
Living in the palm of God's right hand, now I just don't understand
Why daddy never sold this Trinity River bottom land
In 1887, my great-grandfather stood
And looked across this valley on the water and the woods
He cut the trees and stacked the stones for a foundation so strong
It held a house that until just this morning stood so long

In all the years that followed, all the freezes and the floods
This little farm has worked its way into my family's blood
It's a piece of feast or famine, and sometimes it treats us well
But days like this, I feel I've died and gone right straight to hell

Now the river, she just rolls on the same way she's always gone
Ever since my family came and took this land
And daddy always used to say, "The water will give, then turn and take it all away"
Living in the palm of God's right hand, now I just don't understand
Why daddy never sold this Trinity River bottom land
When I was a boy in that white-hot Texas sun
I'd sit for hours and hours, just watched that river run
Looking south, I'd dream someday I would go
Join the pirates that I'd read about on the Gulf of Mexico

Now the wonder in my heart tonight may be hard to understand
Since the river took our hopes and dreams with a swift and savage hand
The moonlight on the water turns to diamonds in the night
There's not one star in heaven that could ever shine so bright

Now the river, she just rolls on the same way she's always gone
Ever since my family came and took this land
And daddy always used to say, "The water will give, then turn and take it all away"
Living in the palm of God's right hand, now I think I understand
Why daddy never sold this Trinity River bottom land

Maybe now I understand
Why daddy never sold this Trinity River bottom land