Matamoros Banks

For two days the river keeps you down
Then you rise to the light without a sound
Past the playgrounds and empty switching yards
The turtles eat the skin from your eyes, so they lay open the stars
Your clothes give way to the current and river stone
Till every trace of who you ever were is gone
An the things of the earth they make their claim
That the things of heaven may do the same
Goodbye, my darling, for your love I give God thanks
Meet me on the Matamoros
Meet me on the Matamoros
Meet me on the Matamoros banks
Over rivers of stone and ancient ocean beds
I walk on sandals of twine and tire tread
My pockets full of dust, my mouth filled with cool stone
The pale moon opens the earth to its bones
I long, my darling, for your kiss, for your sweet love I give God thanks
The touch of your loving fingertips
Meet me on the Matamoros
Meet me on the Matamoros
Meet me on the Matamoros banks
Your sweet memory comes on the evening wind
I sleep and dream of holding you in my arms again
The lights of Brownsville across the river shine
A shout rings out and into the silty red river I dive
Repeat chorus