Kern River

I'll never swim Kern River again

It was there that I met her

It was there that I lost my best friend

And now I live in the mountains

I drifted up here with the wind

And I may drown in still water

But, I'll never swim Kern River again

I grew up in an oil town

But, my gusher never came in

And the river was a boundary

Where my darlin' and I used to swim

One night in the moonlight

The swiftness swept her life away

And now I live on Lake Shasta

And Lake Shasta is where I will stay

There's the south San Joaquin

Where the seeds of the dust bowl are found

And there's a place called Mount Whitney

From where the mighty Kern River comes down

Well, it's not deep nor wide

But, it's a mean piece of water, my friend

And I may cross on the highway

But, I'll never swim Kern River again

Oh, I'll never swim Kern River again

It was there I first met her

And it was there that I lost my best friend

Now I live in the mountains

I drifted up here with the wind

(Mm-mm-mm-mm)

And I may drown in still water

But, I'll never swim Kern River again

(Mm-mm)

I'll never swim Kern River again

(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)

It was there I first met her

It was there that I lost my best friend

Now I live in the mountains

I drifted up here with the wind

(Ooh-ooh-ooh)

And I may cross on the highway

But, I'll never swim Kern River again