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The River In The Pines Lyrics
(traditional)
Oh, Mary was a maiden
When the birds began to sing
She was sweeter than the blooming rose
So early in the spring
Her thoughts were gay and happy
And the morning gay and fine
For her lover was a river boy
From the river in the pines
Now Charlie, he got married
To his Mary in the spring
When the trees were budding early
And the birds began to sing
But early in the autumn
When the fruit is in the wine
I'll return to you, my darling
From the river in the pines
It was early in the morning
In Wisconsin's dreary clime
When he rode the fatal rapids
For that last and fatal time
They found his body lying
On the rocky shore below
Where the silent water ripples
And the whispering cedars blow
Now every raft of lumber
That comes down the Chippewa
There's a lonely grave that's visited
By drivers on their way
They plant wild flowers upon it
In the morning fair and fine
'Tis the grave of two young lovers
From the river in the pines
When the birds began to sing
She was sweeter than the blooming rose
So early in the spring
And the morning gay and fine
For her lover was a river boy
From the river in the pines
To his Mary in the spring
When the trees were budding early
And the birds began to sing
When the fruit is in the wine
I'll return to you, my darling
From the river in the pines
In Wisconsin's dreary clime
When he rode the fatal rapids
For that last and fatal time
On the rocky shore below
Where the silent water ripples
And the whispering cedars blow
That comes down the Chippewa
There's a lonely grave that's visited
By drivers on their way
In the morning fair and fine
'Tis the grave of two young lovers
From the river in the pines
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I take it that "rocket" here is a raft of lumber accelerated in a deadly chute. And it's taken for granted that the bride dies after her darling. There hangs a dark premonition from the very beginning of the ballad, and when both lovers are done with it is even like an alleviation. By Joan Baez's performance it has its dark beauty, but what a dark way to look at life.