Written by: Janis Ian, John Vezner, and John Mellencamp



They are master and slave.

We are sunlight and shadow.

All roads to the river.

I am lost. I am saved.

I'm beloved and betrayed.

All roads to the river.



And the river runs wide,

And the river runs deep

And I spit in the eye

Of safe company.

When I dive right down

To the undertow

Well, the deeper I drown

Lord, the higher I'll go.



I am whispering dreams.

I am howling revolutions.

All roads to the river.

I am valentine sweet

And I live in this nightmare.

All roads to the river.

And the river runs wide,

The river runs deep

And I spit in the eye

Of safe company.

When I dive right down

To the undertow

Well, the deeper I drown

Lord, the higher I'll go.



This is nothing like we planned.

That's the way it's always been.

All roads to the river.

I have hated and I have loved.

I have prayed and I have sinned.

All roads to the river.



And the river runs wide,

The river runs deep

And I spit in the eye

Of safe company.

When I dive right down

To the undertow

Well, the deeper I drown

Lord, the higher I'll go.