If It Wasn't For The Wabash River

(album: The Rambler - 1977)

Fish ain't biting but I don't really care and don't hurry
Like that Wabash River there I'd be drinking
Or laying dead somewhere if it wasn't for the Wabash River
If it wasn't for the Wabash River and this willow tree and my pole and a line
I'd be going crazy as an Indiana cyclone
Drowning memories of her and crying crying crying
If it wasn't for the Wabash River I'd be going out off my mind

It's so peaceful sitting here beneath my tree Lord I need her
Like she often needed me life ain't worth it
Just as far as I can see if it wasn't for the Wabash River
If it wasn't for the Wabash River...

[Rambler]
Look out man alive
Fifty-five miles an hour they want us to go on this Interstate
And you go fifty-five and you get run over by a truck so what do you do

[Fisherman]
Man I must be nuts I just got back from California
All that time out there chasing after her

[Rambler]
Well she must be worth a round trip

[Fisherman]
Worth it
You know there was a time I'd run naked through the snow just to touch that woman

[Rambler]
But you wouldn't now ha

[Fisherman]
Where we're at anyway

[Rambler]
I don't know I believe that's the Platte River you want to go fishing again

[Fisherman]
I had enough fishing

[Rambler]
It's still a long way to California you know

[Fisherman]
You know I just might change my mind before we get there

[Rambler]
You sound like you got no control over whether you go or not

[Fisherman]
That's just it what is it about a woman that makes such a dummy out of a man
She was wild even when she was loving me man
I knew tomorrow it'd likely be somebody else she would be with
But you know just that idea that the next day she could be loving me again
That's what kept me on her tail chasing after all the time
She really was poison but I guess it was good poison
Look at me here I go again hoping for another dose of that sweet poison she had man
Did you ever have a woman like that

[Rambler]
Yeah I guess I have

[Fisherman]
You know what I mean

[Rambler]
My woman's a lady

[Fisherman]
A lady

[Rambler]
A lady will give you the best loving you ever had
I don't care what you had in California but even a lady's love can burn out though
But what I mean is a good woman a kind sweet considerate understanding woman
That likes to be treated like she treats you
And if that ain't bull the better she gives love the more she wants to give
I know what I'm talking about a lady
Lovin's better is a loving heart's going to give another and a lady loves to give
Mine did for a little while