River Town Ballad: 60s Folk Revival

At the bend where the river slows

The mill whistle used to call

Now the loading dock is quiet

And weeds climb up the wall

You count the hours at the diner

You fold the paper thin

And wonder what the town will be

When the last shift clocks out again

River town, hold on awhile

Though the old machines go still

We are more than what they took away

More than rust upon the hill

Mara keeps the corner store

Her son is packing Sunday night

The union hall has empty chairs

But someone left the coffee warm

The river keeps on carrying

What we cannot make stay