he was my brother born the day I left   he took the mother lode and I took the rest   he was a fighter, he was always in control   he kept a candle burning way down in his soul      shots fired in anger and a widow cries alone   just one more mother's son who won't be coming home   they speak in whispers there are riders to the east   the blind man says mister bring a bottle and a priest      that's the way it always goes   that's the way it's always been   who you are or what you know   you're like a feather in the wind   let the river wash you away   reach the river if you can   past the blue and past the grey   all the way, all the way   all the way to no man's land      there was no shelter there was nowhere left to run   they came like eagles screaming down out of the sun   I heard the whistle sound the engine pulled away   I saw my brother down and I left him where he lay      some fight for honor there are those that fight for gold   some die believing all the fairy tales they're told   there are no heroes and there is no marching bang   there are no miracles down here in no man's land      that's the way it always goes   that's the way it's always been   who you are or what you know   you're like a feather in the wind   let the river wash you away   reach the river if you can   past the blue and past the grey   all the way, all the way   all the way to no man's land      (let the river wash away)   (let the river wash away)      that's the way it always goes   that's the way it's always been   who you are or what you know   you're like a feather in the wind   let the river wash you away   reach the river if you can   past the blue and past the grey   all the way, all the way   all the way to no man's land      (let the river wash away) let the river wash away   (let the river wash away) let the river wash away   (let the river wash away) let the river wash away   let the river wash away   let the river wash away