Kern River - Merle Haggard [1984]

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I grew up in an oil town,
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But my gusher never came in.
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And the river was a boundary
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Where my  darlin' and I used to swim.


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Oh, I'll never swim Kern River again.
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It was there that I met her.
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It was there that I lost my best friend.
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And now I live in the mountains.
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I drifted up here with the wind.
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And I may drown in still water,
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But I'll never swim Kern River again.


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There's  the South San Joaquin,
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Where the seeds of the dust bowl are found.
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And there's a place called Mount Whitney
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From where the mighty Kern River comes down.
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Well, it's not  deep nor wide,
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But it's a mean piece of water my friend.
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And I may cross on the highway,
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But I'll never swim Kern River again.