This song is about a man who witnessed a woman being killed and dumped near a body of water. He expresses significant guilt for not having helped intervene.
[Verse 1]
"Don't go there" I heard her say
"You can't stomach what you're gonna see"
It's down there by the water's edge
Wasted and bloated and waiting for someone else
[Verse 2]
Funny how these things come about
When you're tied to the teeth and mouth
The sound of fury, a shot of pain
There was no real reason, no gain
[Chorus]
I can't go down to the water's edge
I didn't do it, I saw who did
Don't go down to the water's edge
They did it once, they can do it again
[Verse 3]
It ain't no secret to me
How she got there down by the stream
Cause I'd seen her a minute before
The van pulled up and opened the door
(Oh my love)
[Verse 4]
I can't say a single word
About what I saw of her
Cause her killers they got their friends
In familiar places, I tell you man
[Chorus]
I can't go down to the water's edge
I didn't do it, I saw who did
Don't go down to the water's edge
They did it once, they can do it again
[Verse 5]
This ain't no fucking game
And I'm feeling so ashamed
Cause I didn't do anything
No I didn't do anything
[Verse 6]
To stop, to stop
To stop, to stop
This from happening
I did not do anything
[Chorus]
Don't go down to the water's edge you said to me
I didn't do it but, I saw who did, you see
Don't go down to the water's edge
They did it once, they can do it again
[Outro]
I swear, I swear
I swear, I swear
I didn't do a thing
I should have done something