I've been a gambler,
I've been a rambler I've been called a low -down roustabout
Been a con vict man down in
Sugar
Land
An d I know what a chain
gang's all about
Been a cotton picker to a city slicker
From
East
Texas to
New
York town
Been to
Hollywood doing all I could
To spread the news around
I've been swimming in river songs
And I'm here to pass them on
I've been swimming in
a river of songs
Ever since I was born
I've been a rover, I've been a chauffeur
But truly, me, I'm a troubadour
I got a chance to play in
Paris,
France
And I've seen things I've
never seen before
Martha, my bride, right by my side
She knows my mind and heals my heart
My loving wife, that woman is half my life
The other half is my guitar
I've been swimming in
a river of songs
And I'm here to pass them on
I've been swimmin' in a river of songs,
my friend, ever since I was born
When you're long gone, they'll sing your songs,
gypsy woman told me in nineteen and ten
You'll be a big name,
destined for fame
You'll do more living than ten men
I've been swimming in a river of songs
And I'm here to pass them on
I've been swimmin' in river songs
Ever since I was born
Ever since I was born