I went down to the river to watch the fish swim by   But I got to the river so lonesome I wanted to die, oh Lord   And then I jumped in the river but the doggone river was dry   She's long gone and now I'm lonesome blue      Well, I had me a woman who couldn't be true   She made me for my money then she made me blue   A man needs a woman that he can lean on   But my leanin' post is done left and gone   She's long gone and now I'm lonesome blue      I'm gon' find me a river, one that's cold as ice   And when I find me that river, Lord, I'm gonna pay the price, oh Lord   I'm goin' down in it three times but I'm only comin' up twice   She's long gone and now I'm lonesome blue      Oh well, she told me on Sunday she was checkin' me out   Along about Monday she was nowhere about   And here it is Tuesday, I ain't had no news   I got them gone but not forgotten blues   She's long gone and now I'm lonesome blue