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 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 a ramble along
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
And I sing
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
And I sing
Even the Tennessee river runs low
The Tennessee river runs low
Even the Tennessee river runs low