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 river was dry. He's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue. I had me a man who couldn't be true. He made me for my money and she made me blue. A woman needs a man that he can lean on, But my leanin' post is done left and gone. He's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue. I'm gonna find me a river, one that's cold as ice. And when I find me that river, Lord I'm gonna pay the price, Oh Lord! I'm goin' down in it three times, but Lord I'm only comin up twice. He's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue. He told me on Sunday he was checkin' me out; Long about Monday he was nowhere about. And here it is Tuesday, ain't had no news. I got them gone but not forgotten blues. He's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue.

I've been gone too long And there ain't no end in sight I've been gone too long There ain't no end in sight I guess I ain't that strong I'm getting' tired of the fight I've lost my way Can't tell right from wrong I've lost my way, baby I can't tell right from wrong Runnin' out of words to say All I know is I've been gone too long (I miss you, baby) Lord, I start to wonder When this road is gonna end Lord, I start to wonder When this lonely road is gonna end It might be tomorrow It might be just up around the bend (I wanna come home, baby)

I'm a rollin' stone all alone and lost For a life of sin, I have paid the cost When I pass by, all the people say Just another guy on the lost highway Just a deck of cards and a jug of wine And a woman's lies makes a life like mine Oh the day we met, I went astray I started rolling down that lost highway I was just a lad, nearly 22 Neither good nor bad, just a kid like you And now I'm lost, too late to pray Lord, I take a cost, on the lost highway Now boys don't start to ramblin' round On this road of sin, are you sorrow-bound? Take my advice or you'll curse the day You started rollin' down that lost highway

I have the invitation that you sent me You wanted me to see you change your name I couldn't stand to see you wed another But dear I hope you're happy just the same Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel That should be ringing out for you and me Down the aisle with someone else you're walking Those wedding bell will never ring for me I planned a little cottage in the valley I even bought a little band of gold I thought some day I'd place it on your finger But now the future looks so dark and cold Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel I hear the children laughing out with glee At home alone I hang my head in sorrow Those wedding bells will never ring for me I fancy that I see a bunch of roses A blossom from an orange tree in your hair And while the organ plays I love you truly Please let me pretend that I am there Wedding bells are ringing in the chapel Ever since the day you set me free I knew someday that you would wed another But wedding bells will never ring for me

I could say it's over now That I was glad to see you go I could hate you for the way I'm feelin' My lips could tell a lie, but my heart would know It's a sin to make me cry When you know I love you so I could tell my heart that I don't miss you My lips could tell a lie, but my heart would know I could give you all the blame But I'm sure the truth would show I could tell this world I've found a new love My lips could tell a lie, but my heart would know I can't fool my cryin' heart 'Cause it knows I need you so I could tell my heart I'm glad we parted My lips could tell a lie, but my heart would know

Once I was happy as I could be But I let a girl make a fool of me And ever since she let me down The blues come around when the sun goes down Oh, the blues come around Oh, the blues come around Lord, the blues come around Every evenin' when the sun goes down As long as the sun is in the sky These doggone blues never make me cry But ever since she left this town The blues come around when the sun goes down Oh, the blues come around Oh, the blues come around Lord, the blues come around Every evenin' when the sun goes down I built my castles very high And then she went and said goodbye And ever since she tore 'em down The blues come around when the sun goes down Oh, the blues come around Oh, the blues come around Lord, the blues come around Every evenin' when the sun goes down Once she called me all her own But now she's gone and I'm alone And every evenin', I'm sorrow bound 'Cause the blues come around when the sun goes down Oh, the blues come around Oh, the blues come around Lord, the blues come around Every evenin' when the sun goes down Oh, the blues come around Yeah, the blues come around Lord, the blues come around Every evenin' when the sun goes down