Frank and Tony were brothers, they ran away from home
They made it down to Memphis where they sat an' watched the river flow
On the banks of the river, on the banks of the river, child

An old man on the bank of the river sat and played an old guitar
Frank reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a beat up harp
(And began to blow)
And they played on the banks of the river, the banks of the river, child

And Tony told the kid about it and that little kid was me
And when I finally ran away from home with someone chasin' after me
I made it down to the banks of the river, the banks of the river, child

They made it out to the country but the cops didn't want'em around
So Officer Bartlet and Officer Fliss said, "Tony' now you better leave town"
He ran down to the banks of the river, child

Tony caused a lot of trouble and he hurt a couple people too
And he'd sit up late at night and cry
'Cause he didn't know what to do on the banks
On the banks of the river, child

I ain't seen 'em forever, don't know if they still alive
But when I hear someone blowin' the harp
Down on the riverside, on the banks of the river, on the banks of the river

In the green grass, by the river Glass
While a soft breeze stirs and the trucks roll past