Across The River

Album: A Night on the Town (1990)
Charted: 18
Play Video
  • Then she moved back around here
    Thirty-five weeks ago today
    Oh down the lane
    At night she walks on the banks
    And remembers how she dreamed of rowing away
    And how she left one day
    She left with a driven look in her eyes
    Came back around with it still inside
    They said give it some time and you'll forget about it too
    We know they always do
    Well I know

    Some fine day
    You will find your way across the river
    Across the river
    Row down slow
    And there's a long way to go
    Across the river
    Across the river

    She was proud and so strong
    But she tried not to listen to idle talk
    Downtown where she walked
    Well, they sit around and they say
    That she came back with her tail between her legs
    Like they always said she would

    Well I hear it's better on the other side
    They say you'll never do it so don't even try
    Well you may be beaten down with your closed mind
    But don't try and make it mine
    Well I know

    Some fine day
    You will find your way across the river
    Across the river
    Row down slow
    And there's a long way to go
    Across the river
    Across the river

    Your wild days are through is what they said
    I dreamed she came, when I was down
    And I walked where she led

    Standing on the shore
    She looks to the west with a look of longing
    Where the grass seems greener
    But there's a hard and distant prize
    It probably won't happen but I think I'll try
    Well even if it doesn't happen for me
    It still beats hanging 'bout here
    Well I know

    Some fine day
    You will find your way across the river
    Across the river
    Row down slow
    And there's a long long way to go
    Across the river
    Across the river

    River
    Won't cross the river

    Across the river
    Across the river
    Long long way
    Across the river
    Across the river Writer/s: Bruce Hornsby, Jonathan Hornsby
    Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Todd from Huntsville, AlabamaAbsolutely love the drums on this song
  • Al from Hollister, CaMy favorite song from Bruce and that says a lot because he has so many great ones.
    I put Bruce Hornsby and Neil Young as my favorite song writers.
    Now if he would only tour the west coast once in a while, it would make his fans here very happy.
  • Justin from Rochester, NyJerry Garcia played lead guitar on the original recording. In the liner notes for his 2004 greatest hits album, Bruce Hornsby said it may have been the second time Garcia ever hit the Top 40 chart (the first being the Grateful Dead's 1987 hit "Touch of Grey").
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Shawn Mullins

Shawn MullinsSongwriter Interviews

"Lullaby" singer Shawn Mullins on "Beautiful Wreck," beating the Devil, and his writing credit on the Zac Brown Band song "Toes."

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"They're Playing My Song

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it?" Another songwriter told Jonathan to change these lyrics. Good thing he ignored this advice.