RIVERTOWN ©1993 by John Bennett

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1. Well I remember Papa John, he was, bigger than life.

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I can, still hear, his voice like Thunder, that cut, through you just like a knife

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We played, out our hearts, at the 400 bar, down on Riverside Avenue.

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On a stage no bigger than a postage stamp, we’d serve up the Mill City Blues.

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We’d wind up cruising Lake Street, just a bumming around.

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Sitting’ by the river, watching the barges going down… Then we’d go

CHORUS:

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Kickin’, kickin’ around this old Rivertown.

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Kickin’ around, Kickin’ around, this ol’ Rivertown. (2X on V.1 & 2)

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2. He always said he’d go down to New Orleans, someday, aboard The Delta Queen.

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And ride in style with the ladies and the gamblers, but I guess he never found his dream.

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I remember the day that I got the news, while staying,with some friends of mine.

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He was found face down, in a Shanty Town, I guess he gambled one too many times.

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He didn’t live rich, but he sure, lived in style,

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He gives the shirt off his back, & I’m glad I knew him while….While we were…. CHORUS:

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3. Well I drove back to the cities, a-late last night.

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And wound up on the midway, in the early morning’ twilight.

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The rides they sat motion less, all the Carney’s were asleep.

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Old papa John, would have liked it here, he would have, danced in the streets.

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Well life’s left his body, but his, spirit still remains.

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Sometimes I get the feeling he’s up there with, old Mark Twain….And they’ll be…. CHORUS:

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1. Well I remember Papa John, he was, bigger than life.

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I can, still hear, his voice like Thunder, that cut, through you just like a knife ……