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Up The River Lyrics
Billy was a young man gone astray
Bottle at his lips all night and day
Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday
Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday
Whiskey ate big holes in Billy's head
Summer's day he shot spud murphy dead
He said i'm headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red
Yeah headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red
Mama asked Lord Jesus what to do
At the door came knocking boys in blue
We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues ma'am
We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues
And so she watched him round that riverbend go
Billy felt a chill pass 'cross him cold
They sent him up the river to turn a young man old
Yeah They sent him up the river to turn a young man old
Bottle at his lips all night and day
Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday
Mama said they're gonna send you up the river someday
Summer's day he shot spud murphy dead
He said i'm headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red
Yeah headed up the river as he watched the blood pour red
At the door came knocking boys in blue
We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues ma'am
We're gonna send him up the river and make him pay his dues
Billy felt a chill pass 'cross him cold
They sent him up the river to turn a young man old
Yeah They sent him up the river to turn a young man old
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Sounds like a drunkard on the loose, ends up murdering a local man, and the police come to get him and send him to prison for life (or execute him).
I don't think "send him up the river" necessary means they sent him to prison....could very well mean that they simply drove him out of town.