My mother came to Hazard when I was just seven 
Even then the folks in town said with prejudiced eyes 
That boy's not right ... 
Three years ago when I came to know Mary 
First time that someone looked beyond [bad word] and the lies 
And saw the man inside ... 
We used to walk down by the river 
She loved to watch the sun go down 
We used to walk along the river 
And dream our way out of this town ... 
No one understood what I felt for Mary 
No one cared until the night she went out walking alone 
And never came home ... 
Man with a badge came knocking next morning 
Here was I surrounded by a thousand fingers suddenly 
Pointed right at me ... 
I swear I left her by the river 
I swear I left her safe and sound 
I need to make it to the river 
And leave this old Nebraska town 
I think about my life gone by 
And how it's done me wrong 
There's no escape for me this time 
All of my rescues are gone, long gone 
I swear I left her by the river 
I swear I left her safe and sound 
I need to make it to the river 
And leave this old Nebraska town ...