Where the Black River Bends

I woke with rust in my mouth

And gravel in my bones

Your name was nailed to the door

Of every road back home

I kept one match for the rain

One prayer I couldn't sell (ahhhh)

The floorboards moan under midnight weight The ceiling leans like stone

If mercy ever finds this place

Let it find me alone (mm-mm)

Lay me down where the black river bends

Let the cold ground take my name

I have carried this fire to the end And I won't be

clean again (ohhh) (ahhh)

The saints on the dashboard cracked

Their painted eyes turned gray

I drove until the tires sang

Then threw the map away

Every mile had teeth in it

Every mile knew why (yeah)

I heard the rails in my bloodstream

I felt the hills cave in

No angel came to bargain

No law could call me clean (ohhh)

Lay me down where the black river bends

Let the cold ground take my name

I have carried this fire to the end

And I won't be clean again

No, I won't be clean again (ohhh) (ahhh)