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

Repeat Chorus

Repeat verse one