Two young lovers with their bodies on fire

Achin' to swim that river of desire

Leavin' innocence there on the bank by their clothes

A man holdin' on to a woman lettin' go



There's a man with a bottle on the other side of town

Swimmin' with a mem-ry that he can't drown

Lord it ain't sunk in that she ain't comin' home

A man holdin' on to a woman lettin' go



Chorus

His heart is tellin him

To hang on for dear life

Cuz deep down he knows

She's lettin' go for good this time



There's a daddy walkin' his daughter down the aisle

Fightin' back tears and forcin' a smile

For 22 years he's watched her grow

A man holdin' on to a woman lettin' go

In the hill valley home there's a feeble old man

And he's holdin' on to a fragile old hand

and the angels are comin' to carry her home

now he's a man holdin' on to a woman lettin' go