written by Emmylou Harris

copyright 1987 Sorghum Music (ASCAP)



I crossed on the river

There'll be no returning

I crossed all the bridges

I watched them all burning

And now I'm a stranger

To a strange land I'm driven

Where all is forgotten

And nothing's forgiven



But I cried a river

A river for him

That's deeper and wider

Than I'll ever swim

The heart it will harden

The sorrow will dim

But I cried a river

A river for him



I think of him now

On the road I am taking

And wonder how long

His heart will be breaking

But he'll never hear when

The teardrops are falling

Or the sound of my voice

Or the name I am calling



But I cried a river

A river for him

That's deeper and wider

Than I'll ever swim

The heart it will harden

The sorrow will dim

But I cried a river

A river for him



So weep for the sons

And the dear darling daughters

For the passing of time

And the parting of waters

For all who have passed through

This world long before me

To a far distant shore line

Where no one waits for me



But I cried a river

A river for him

That's deeper and wider

Than I'll ever swim

The heart it will harden

The sorrow will dim

But I cried a river

A river for him



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GUITARS: Dean Parks

DRUMS: Russ Kunkel

BASS: Leland Sklar

ACOUSTIC PIANO AND SYNTHESIZER: Robbie Buchanan

GLASS ARMONICA: Dennis James

BASS AND ALTO FLUTE: Jon Clarke

ALL BACKGROUND VOCALS: Linda Ronstadt

ORCHESTRA ARRANGED AND CONDUCTED BY David Campbell