RIO ESPERANZA 
(Bill Payne / Shaun Murphy) 


texas to tennessee blue 
highway to highway 
just to get back to you 
with the barren winds blowin’ 
a jealous moon ‘cross the plains 
i’ll only be runnin’ and callin’ your name 

i should have never left you 
after what i held close 
with the hours slippin’ by 
from the one i love most 
chasing days that take flight 
and the mist from my eyes 
i die a little each day with you so far away 

oh my darlin’ i’ve cried these many miles 
a kiss in the shadows, a whispered memory 
i’ll be waiting, all of my life, only my only (only my lonely) 
rio esperanza, it’s the river of hope 

there’s a place in my heart where you’ll always be 
where the shallows run long, and the driftin’ is free 

oh my darlin’ i’ve cried these many miles 
a kiss in the shadows, a whispered memory 
i’ll be waiting, all of my life, only my only (only my lonely) 
rio esperanza, it’s the river of hope 

across windswept hills your voice calms to caress me 
like a lover stealing glances 
i can’t wait to hold you 
see the light flicker softly 
in a blue silverscape 
it’s such sweet surrender (and) i’ve come home again 

oh my darling 
a kiss in the shadows 
a whispered memory 
i'll be waiting 
all of my life 
only my only 
rio esperanza 
it's the river of hope