Daddy played guitar in a bluegrass band He made his living on the DOT Faded star upon his wrist He come out of Huntsville back in '86 And he just waved bye-bye like he was some ordinary guy Goddamn that man, but what he told me sticks We've gotta cross that river in a black dog wind I lost myself in the jack-knife daylight I sang "Rock of Ages" 'til I was cross-eyed The night seemed so endless, and I fought with the sunshine Mama begged me to wait for the right time Oh, I just waved bye-bye—I was waiting to fly Goddamn that man, but what he told me sticks We've gotta cross that river in a black dog wind Rose of roses Take my troubled mind To the water I grew stronger and I grew older Only myself, and I had no other The sun rose in my blood early one morning And love was so simple, like a new day dawning I waved bye-bye to that city of mine I loved that man, but I'm not like him Sometimes we cross that river in a black dog wind