Lyrics Natalie Merchant

Natalie Merchant

River

Young & strong Hollywood son

In the early morning light

This star fell down

On Sunset Boulevard

Young & strong beautiful one

One that we embraced so close

Is gone

Was torn away

Let the youth of America mourn

Include him in their prayers

Let his image linger on

Repeat it everywhere

With candles with flowers

He was one of ours

One of ours

Why don't you let him be?

He's gone

We know

Give his mother & father peace

Your vulture's candor

Your casual slander

Will murder his memory

He's gone

We know

And it's nothing but a tragedy

Lay to rest your soul and body

Lay beside your name

Lay to rest your rage

Your hunger and amazing grace

With candles, with flowers

You were one of ours

One of ours

I saw cameras expose your life

I heard rumors explode with lies

I saw children with tears

Cry and crowd around the sight

Of where you had collapsed that day

Where your last breath & word

Had been sighed

Where your heart had burst

Where you had died

I saw how they were lost in grieving

All half-believing you were gone

The loss and pain of it

Crime and the shame of it

You were gone

It was such a nightmare raving,

"how could we save him

From himself?"