Down the River Chris Knight

I was eighteen
My brother was twenty-one
One Saturday evening
When all the work was done
We went down to the river
Had some trot lines to run

My brother Walter
Had a fight the week before
Knocked a boy named Wilson
Through the pool hall door
They said you don't mess with Wilson
Unless you want a war

I put the boat in the water
And I made the engine run
I loaded the lantern
Against a sinking sun
And my brother Walter
Was loading his gun
And we went down the river

Down past the coal docks
We were runnin' our lines
Heard some drunken boaters
Racing up behind
It was Wilson and his cousin
Had trouble on their minds