Take Old Hank (Down By The River) Lyrics

Take old Hank down by the river.
Take old Hank down by the stream.
Take old Hank Down by the river.
Let an old man have his dreams.

I dreamt I saw old Hank down by the river,
Where he was cutting a fishing pole from a willow tree.
He said, “Hi.” And kept on smiling,
Then he asked me if I'd ever been down to old Bear Creek.

I followed him on down the hollow,
Where the Pumpkin branch runs into old Bear Creek.
He cut a bob from an old dead oak tree,
And he tied it to a string, tied it to his pole,
And threw it in the stream.

He fished the same spot all afternoon,
While he sang songs and played my old guitar.
I never spoke, I only listened,
While old Hank's voice filled a quiet forest
And calmed my soul.

I watched the sun fade across the hollow,
When old Hank stopped and he finally spoke.
He said, “I'm tired and I've got to go now.”
Then he got up headed down the trail and I awoke.

Take old Hank down by the river.
Take old Hank down by the stream.
Take old Hank Down by the river.
Let an old man have his dreams.