Dar Williams - Mad River lyrics

[Verse 1] It was the summertime of the boys in the search for the mark of men Heading out to the tall rocks knowing this could be the end When they cheer When you break to the surface, will you do it all over again? Jumping in the mad river Ron was a friend and a brother and a golden one Like a leader and we were the tribe of the northern sun He dropped down From the bottom of the covered bridge when the day was done In the northern sun [Chorus] Jumping in the mad river Mad river You watch them high flying in the air Then that summer comes and you're standing there Above the mad river [Verse 2] And the whole world is ours as far as the eye could see Ron's somewhere looking down at the girls looking up at me He said “Love ‘em from afar but like ‘em up close, man That's the way it's gotta be Jumping in the mad river” He brought Liz to the bar that year we got a ton of snow They were so in love they were out of breath But we wondered did she know ‘Til she said “Hey guys, I hear Ron's shored for Geronimo Calling out ‘Geronimo!'” [Chorus] Jumping in the mad river Mad river I know it's just a moment in your life But it's a back flip into a jack knife Into the mad river [Bridge] They had a potluck wedding, they were paid in full Ron's job had leave and medical So they got the place And they had the babe Liz gave the nod She was due in May [Verse 3] I heard Ron lost his job around Memorial Day He got it back, same job But now with a different company name This time No benefits comin' and just about half the pay I asked him ‘bout his son And he said “Well there's another test Everyday another doctor makes another guess And the credit card folks talk to you like you're just a little less Just a little less.” Oh whoa You think the world wants to see what you do But your blind faith's all they want from you [Chorus] In the mad river, mad river Whoa Go out, they say, you're a bunch of sheep Be the big man, take a flying leap Into the mad river