Elk River Blues

I am an old man, my life is nearly gone

Yet I remember as sure as I sing this song

The old Elk River and my home along its side

Where by its banks each morning I would ride

Each summer evening the river called to me

Song of the bluebird in the shade of the willow tree

Watched that green water turn gold at close of day

Sometimes the elk and otter came to play

That old Elk River, it keeps on winding along

That old Elk River flows round the bend and gone

I would go with her if I only had the time

That old Elk River, you long lost friend of mine

Was in the spring, 19 and 34

A man came by talking about the Army Corps

We signed that contract to move to higher ground

They dammed Elk River and all our homes were drowned

My great-grandfather first came into this land

With a bow and a fiddle he built the life by hand

Now this old fiddle is all I've got to lose

And a lonesome tune I call Elk River Blues

That old Elk River, it keeps on winding along

That old Elk River flows round the bend and gone

I would go with her if I only had the time

That old Elk River, you long lost friend of mine

That old Elk River, you long lost friend of mine