I was 18 my brother was 21
One saturday evenin when all the work was done
We went down to the river we had some trot lines to run
My brother walter had a fight the week before
Knocked a boy named wilson through the pool hall door
They said you dont mess with wilson unless you want a war
I put the boat in the water and i made the engine run
I loaded the lantern against the sinking sun
And my brother walter was loading his gun
And we went down the river
Down past the coal docks we were running our lines
Heard some drunken boaters racing up behind
It was wilson and his cousin they had trouble on their minds
They passed on by us probably going to tend their pots
We headed up the river with the fish we'd caught
But before we made the landing i thought i heard a shot
Back down the river
My brother walter fell over the side
And i couldnt find him no matter how i tried
And i looked along the bank but i couldnt find where they'd hide
They drug the river they searched it up and down
Couldnt find his body so they decided that he'd drowned
But i knew better cause wilson bragged around town
So one night i floated down right above wilsons shack
I hid in the woods untill i saw him walk out back
I put a bullet in his head and dropped him in his tracks
Then we went down the river
Down below the trestle where the water runs slow
I chained him to an anvil then i let him go
And five years later well i aint told a soul
And i aint done much fishin i hardly wet a line
The death of my brother is still heavy on my mind
I've been thinking wilsons cousin better find a place to hide
Cause i'm goin down the river yeah i'm goin down the river