Verse The river that runs through my hometown used to freeze over in the winter We’d go down to the water’s edge with a jug of red wine And the girl I loved most of my life she’d take my hand and with a smile We’d walk across the water to pass the time Prechorus Her mother would pray with the porch light on so she could find her way Chorus She said "If you don’t believe then how can you make it through If there’s nothing but lies then how will my children learn to tell the truth If you don’t believe darling what can you do Cause if nothing really matters then what’s the use" Verse About five days after I turned 16 she grabbed my face and swore to me This town will crush the life from all my dreams So she stole the keys to her daddy’s car and with fear in her eyes she begged for my arms but no matter what she said I wasn’t ready to leave Prechorus And her father would wait with the porch light on till she could find her way Chorus And he’d said "If you don’t believe then how can you make it through If there’s nothing but lies then how will your children learn to tell the truth If you don’t believe darling what can you do Cause if nothing really matters then what’s the use" Bridge And the place they say I got my eyes is from a broken man who never smiled In pictures he wouldn’t know me on the street Now you can cross your heart a thousand times but most nights I’m left here wondering why I ever loved someone who’s so afraid of me Prechorus I’d sit and I’d wait for the porch light on till she comes back to me Chorus And I’d say "If you don’t believe than how can we make it through If there’s nothing but lies then how will our children learn to tell the truth If you don’t believe darling what can we do Cause if nothing really matters” I said “if nothing really matters oh love If nothing really matters then what’s the use?" Ohhhhh