Lyrics Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

If It Wasn't For The Wabash River

Fish ain't bitin' but I don't really care and don't hurry

Like that Wabash River there I'd be drinkin'

Or laying dead somewhere if it wasn't for the Wabash River

If it wasn't for the Wabash River and this willow tree and my pole and a line

I'd be goin' crazy as an Indiana cyclone

Drownin' memories of her and cryin' cryin' cryin'

If it wasn't for the Wabash River I'd be goin' out off my mind

It's so peaceful sittin' here beneath my tree Lord I need her

Like she often needed me life ain't worth it

Just as far as I can see if it wasn't for the Wabash River

If it wasn't for the Wabash River...

[Rambler]

Look out man alive

Fifty-five miles an hour they want us to go on this Interstate

And you go fifty-five and you get run over by a truck so what do you do

[Fisherman]

Man I must be nuts I just got back from California

All that time out there chasin' after her

[Rambler]

Well she must be worth a round trip

[Fisherman]

Worth it

You know there was a time I'd run naked through the snow just to touch that woman

[Rambler]

But you wouldn't now ha

[Fisherman]

Where we're at anyway

[Rambler]

I don't know I believe that's the Platte River you want to go fishin' again

[Fisherman]

I had enough fishin'

[Rambler]

It's still a long way to California you know

[Fisherman]

You know I just might change my mind before we get there

[Rambler]

You sound like you got no control over whether you go or not

[Fisherman]

That's just it what is it about a woman that makes such a dummy out of a man

She was wild even when she was lovin' me man

I knew tomorrow it'd likely be somebody else she would be with

But you know just that idea that the next day she could be lovin' me again

That's what kept me on her tail chasin' after all the time

She really was poison but I guess it was good poison

Look at me here I go again hopin' for another dose of that sweet poison she had man

Did you ever have a woman like that

[Rambler]

Yeah I guess I have

[Fisherman]

You know what I mean

[Rambler]

My woman's a lady

[Fisherman]

A lady

[Rambler]

A lady will give you the best lovin' you ever had

I don't care what you had in California but even a lady's love can burn out though

But what I mean is a good woman a kind sweet considerate understandin' woman

That likes to be treated like she treats you

And if that ain't bull the better she gives love the more she wants to give

I know what I'm talkin' about a lady

Lovin's better is a lovin' heart's goin' to give another and a lady loves to give

Mine did for a little while