I don't know why I love you like I do
After all the changes you put me through
You stole my money and my cigarette
And I haven't seen hide nor hair of you yet

I don't know
Won't you tell me
Why I don't understand (note 1)

Take me to the river
Won't you wash me down
Won't you cleanse my soul
Put my feet on the ground

I don't know why she treated me so bad
After all the things we could have had
Love is a notion I can't forget
My sweet sixteens I will never regret

I don't know
Won't you tell me
Why I don't understand

Take me to the river
Drop me in the water
Take me to the river
Drop me in the water

Hold me, love me, squeeze me (note 2)
Till I can't, I can't take no more

I don't know why I love you like I do
After all the changes you put me through
There's sixteen candles burning on my wall
All telling me who's the fool of them all

I don't know
Who can tell me
Why I don't understand
No, no
Tell me, tell me
Why I don't understand
Don't understand
Don't understand
Don't understand
Don't understand

Take me to the river
Drop me in the water
Take, take me to the river
Drop me in the water
Take, take me to the river
I don't know
Take, take me to the river
I don't know
I don't know
[etc]