River Boy
Waylon Jennings · Destiny's Child [Bear Family] [1999]
I was born and raised on the river
It's the only life that I know
People 'round here have put a name on me
And I hear it wherever I go
They call me river boy, river boy
Good for nothin' river boy.
This old world don't hold a whole lot of joy
When you're nothin' but a river boy
I do a lot of fishin' on the river
To make my livin' you see
When I take my catch to the market place
The people call out to me.
And they say, river boy, hey river boy
You got any fish today there, river boy
I sell my ware, but nobody cares
About the feelin's of the river boy.
There's a pretty girl works at the market place
I see her there everyday
But when I try to talk to her
I can hear her papa say
Come away from that River boy, he's a river boy
Nothin' but riff-raff, them river boys
No girl of mine is gonna waste her time
On a good for nothin' river boy.
So I head my boat back up the river
Back to my old fishin' place
I'm afraid this ol' river's gonna overflow
From the tears a-fallin' down my face
I'm nothin' but a river boy, river boy
A good for nothin' river boy.
This old world don't hold a whole lot of joy
When you're nothin' but a river boy
River boy, river boy
A good for nothin' river boy
River boy...
River Boy
Waylon Jennings delivers a quintessential outlaw country performance on 'River Boy,' a track that encapsulates the rugged individualism and storytelling prowess that defined his career. Recorded during the late 1990s, the song reflects Jennings' enduring ability to blend traditional country themes with a distinct, gritty vocal style that resonated across generations. The recording features Jennings' signature twang and emotive delivery, characteristic of his work with RCA Victor and his later collaborations. As a staple of his discography, 'River Boy' stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the outlaw movement, capturing the essence of the American frontier through its narrative and sonic texture.