Waters Of The Delaware

by Mike Breen

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Waters Of The Delaware by Mike Breen

A song about the environment.

lyrics

Waters Of The Delaware by Mike Breen

Well, I was drivin’ down the highway late one night
when suddenly a hitchhiker appeared in my headlights
and as I slowly pulled over and unlocked the door
I had the strangest feeling’ that I’d seen him before

his face was hard and wrinkled and his hair was black as night
though I did my best to hide it I was taken by the sight
of an Indian on a nickel made some eighty years ago
standing in my headlights on a lonely midnight road

Well, his breath was full of whiskey and his buckskin clothes were worn
and feathers on his headdress were all tattered and torn
I could see the man was desperate for a place to rest his head
when I asked “How far ya’ going?’ This is what he said

He said “I am your country and I’ve paid a bitter price
for all of my strength I am hurting inside
And I need to get well so if you will take me there
I will drink from the Waters Of The Delaware”

Well, he passed out there beside me his head against the door
and I thought I ought to tell him you can’t drink that stuff no more
Man. the Delaware’s polluted and it has been for years
but there’s a place I know I Jersey where we could stop and get some beers

I offered my suggestion but the Indian was fast asleep
until I swerved to miss a pot hole and nearly knocked him off the seat
he woke up mighty quickly and began to look around
and when he finally got his bearings he made a mournful sound

He said “I am your country and it’s been two hundred years
for all of my strength I can’t hold back my tears
And I need to get well so if you will take me there
I will drink from the Waters Of The Delaware”

We made it to the river and we headed for the spot
where General Washington and his army on a Christmas Evening crossed
the Delaware to Trenton some two hundred years ago
saying “These are the times that try men’s souls”

There was not a word between us as I pulled around to park
and I cursed my broken flashlight as I stumbled in the dark
by the time I found the marker where the army crossed that night
I realized the old Indian had disappeared from sight

and as I looked across the water for a moment I could see
General Washington and the Indian they were waving back at me
and they were singing

“We are America and we’ve paid a bitter price
for all of our strength we are hurting inside
and we need to get well so that one day we might share
a drink from the Waters Of The Delaware”

copyright 1998 Michael J Breen
Breensongs Pub BMI

credits

released October 25, 2022
Written, Recorded and Performed by Mike Breen
@2014 Michael J Breen Breensongs Pub. BMI
Basilbone Records

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all rights reserved

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Mike Breen Phoenix, Arizona

Over the years Mike has gained an enthusiastic following for his "story songs."

"​Mike Breen may be an unfamiliar name but his songs have that warm. lived in quality that lodge themselves firmly within the subconscious..." John O'Regan - Rock-N-Reel

One of..."the best of the real indies..." Carolyn Adams - WDIY-FM ... more

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