(C) Coon dog howls, (G) baby cries 
(F) Nightlight shinin' was a fireflie 
My (C) very first kiss, my (G) mother's last wish 
Sit(F)tin' here thinkin' 'bout days gone by 
(C) Somewhere west of the (G) Carolina line 
I (F) lost my way, nearly lost my mind 
(C) Drinkin' from a fountain of (G) tears I cried 
Cause, my (F) well's full of dust, and my soul's bone dry 
 
I'm goin' (C) back to the river, where the (G) water runs deep 
(F) Fall on my knees and take a big drink 
(C) Wash this body, where (G) I was baptised 
And (F) quinch my thirst, where the moon still shines 
(Dm) Back to the (C) river 
 
Well, I (C) hit the ground runnin' when I (G) hit hard times 
(F) Runnin' away - chasin' highway signs 
(C) Tried to change a heart made of (G) naughty pine 
But, you (F) can't draw whiskey from a Honeysuckle vine 
 
I'm goin' (C) back to the river, where the (G) water runs deep 
(F) Fall on my knees and take a big drink 
(C) Wash this body, where (G) I was baptised 
And (F) quinch my thirst, where the moon still shines 
(Dm) Back to the (C) river 
 
Solo 
 
I'm goin' (C) back to the river, where the (G) water runs deep 
(F) Fall on my knees and take a big drink 
(C) Wash this body, where (G) I was baptised 
And (F) quinch my thirst, where the moon still shines 
(Dm) Back to the (C) river