i went down to the river to watch the fish swim by but i got to the river so lonesome i wanted to die oh lord and then i jumped in the river but the doggone river was dry she s long gone and now i m lonesome blue i had me a woman who couldn t be true she made me for my money and she made me blue a man needs a woman that he can lean on but my leaning post is done left and gone she s long gone and now i m lonesome blue she told me on sunday she was checking me out long about monday she was nowhere about and here it is tuesday ain t had no news i got them gone but not forgotten blues she s long gone and now i m lonesome blue i m going to find me a river one that s cold as ice and when i find me that river lord i m going to pay the price oh lord i m going down in it three times but lord i m only coming up twice 