Lyrics:

I'll never swim Kern River again. It was there that I met her. It was there that I lost my best friend. And now I live in the mountains. I drifted up here with the wind. And I may drown in still water, But I'll never swim Kern River again. I grew up in an oil town, But my gusher never came in. And the river was a boundary, Where my darlin' and I used to swim. One night in the moonlight, The swiftness swept her life away. And now I live on Lake Shasta, And Lake Shasta is where I will stay. There's the South San Joaquin, Where the seeds of the dust bowl are found. And there's a place called Mount Whitney, From where the mighty Kern River comes down. Now, it's not deep nor wide, But it's a mean piece of water, my friend. And I may cross on the highway, But I'll never swim Kern River again. I'll never swim Kern River again. It was there that I met her. It was there that I lost my best friend. And now I live in the mountains. I drifted up here with the wind. And I may drown in still water, But I'll never swim Kern River again. Instrumental break. I'll never swim Kern River again. An' it was there that I met her. It was there that I lost my best friend. Now I live in the mountains. I drifted up here with the wind. And I may drown in still water, But I'll never swim Kern River again.