Acoustic Folk Art 2, Track 8, 04:10
When The River Is Long
When I was just a boy
My Momma said to me
Take this bucket, son
Go and pick the beans
You head down the row
And lift every branch
Keep your eyes sharp
And pick each plant clean
I said to her, Mom
The thermometer says
It must be
A hundred and twenty degrees
She pondered on this
And thoughtfully said
Well, good, then I know
You won’t freeze
When the river is long
You better start rowin’
The arch wasn’t built
In only a weekend
When the grass gets too tall
You better start mowin’
When the fire is hot
At least you’re not freezin’
When I was in high school
My coach said to me
Here’s the route that I want you to run
You head through these hills
Up until the last turn
Keep a move on
And your feet may not burn
I said to him, coach
The thermometer says
It must be
A hundred and twenty degrees
He pondered on this
And thoughtfully said
Well, good, then I know
You won’t freeze
When the river is long
You better start rowin’
The arch wasn’t built
In only a weekend
When the grass gets too tall
You better start mowin’
When the fire is hot
At least you’re not freezin’
<harmonica break>
Well now I’m a man
And I’m working to clear
A fence row for our daughter’s horses
There’s hedge tough as nails
And wrapped everywhere else
Is poison ivy in choruses
I said to myself, the thermometer says
It must be
A hundred and twenty degrees
Then I laughed as I knelt down
And started my saw
At least I know I won’t freeze
When the river is long
You better start rowin’
The arch wasn’t built
In only a weekend
When the grass gets too tall
You better start mowin’
When the fire is hot
At least you’re not freezin’
<repeat chorus to end>
When I was just a boy
My Momma said to me
Take this bucket, son
Go and pick the beans
You head down the row
And lift every branch
Keep your eyes sharp
And pick each plant clean
I said to her, Mom
The thermometer says
It must be
A hundred and twenty degrees
She pondered on this
And thoughtfully said
Well, good, then I know
You won’t freeze
When the river is long
You better start rowin’
The arch wasn’t built
In only a weekend
When the grass gets too tall
You better start mowin’
When the fire is hot
At least you’re not freezin’
When I was in high school
My coach said to me
Here’s the route that I want you to run
You head through these hills
Up until the last turn
Keep a move on
And your feet may not burn
I said to him, coach
The thermometer says
It must be
A hundred and twenty degrees
He pondered on this
And thoughtfully said
Well, good, then I know
You won’t freeze
When the river is long
You better start rowin’
The arch wasn’t built
In only a weekend
When the grass gets too tall
You better start mowin’
When the fire is hot
At least you’re not freezin’
<harmonica break>
Well now I’m a man
And I’m working to clear
A fence row for our daughter’s horses
There’s hedge tough as nails
And wrapped everywhere else
Is poison ivy in choruses
I said to myself, the thermometer says
It must be
A hundred and twenty degrees
Then I laughed as I knelt down
And started my saw
At least I know I won’t freeze
When the river is long
You better start rowin’
The arch wasn’t built
In only a weekend
When the grass gets too tall
You better start mowin’
When the fire is hot
At least you’re not freezin’
<repeat chorus to end>
Song Notes
This tune is about growing up when summers were working in the sun and getting ready for cross-country in the fall.
This tune is about growing up when summers were working in the sun and getting ready for cross-country in the fall.
Song Credits
Words and music by Mark Lehnhoff [2005]
Guitar, Harmonica and Vocals: Mark Lehnhoff
Cello: Peter Grimes
Violin: Alana Carithers
Flute: Guilherme Andreas
Recorded and mixed by Josh Woods, J2 Music Productions, Louisa, Virginia
Produced by Josh Woods and Mark Lehnhoff
Album Artwork: Rob Hatem
Copyright 2005, 2017
Lester Chester Music, LLC
All Rights Reserved
Words and music by Mark Lehnhoff [2005]
Guitar, Harmonica and Vocals: Mark Lehnhoff
Cello: Peter Grimes
Violin: Alana Carithers
Flute: Guilherme Andreas
Recorded and mixed by Josh Woods, J2 Music Productions, Louisa, Virginia
Produced by Josh Woods and Mark Lehnhoff
Album Artwork: Rob Hatem
Copyright 2005, 2017
Lester Chester Music, LLC
All Rights Reserved
