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Van Dyke Brown Lyrics by River Whyless

Kindness, A Rebel

2018

[Verse 1]
When I was courted by the loved and reckless
I made my case to the highest names
But they drowned me out in hallelujahs
All deaf, all deaf with praise

[Verse 2]
Just where you think I would, I found my circus
In the dim light of a west-town bar
Shouting benedictions out to feed our fire
"Amen, amen, what men we are"

[Verse 2]
And as the oak and the smoke rings paint you
In a glow of Van Dyke Brown
To see you dance so free, I can't heart nothing
"Hey boys, hey boys, man down"

[Verse 3]
You said I suit you like a farmer's armor
And fields that call his mind away
And how you heal from an orphan's sorrow
As rains wash away the grey
Ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama mama
Ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama mama

[Verse 4]
'Cause I was lost like a politician
Caught up in a game of tug of war
When I found my feet slipping, found myself wishing
I knew what it was that I ever stood for

[Verse 5]
But then you cool and I'm just my mother
Try to reshape me and I'm just my father
And all of the songs I learned
Before I forgot them

[Verse 6]
Now when the day comes that I am lowered
In a case of Van Dyke Brown
Wanna hear my circus shouting out in benediction
Wanna hear them singing, all deaf with praise
Wanna see you dancing in the glow of sundown
All around, all around
So free, so free
All around my grave
All around my grave
Ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama mama
Ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama mama

About “Van Dyke Brown” by River Whyless

Read the complete lyrics to "Van Dyke Brown" by River Whyless from the album "Kindness, A Rebel" in 2018. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock, Folk.

"Van Dyke Brown" is performed by River Whyless. from the album "Kindness, A Rebel" in 2018 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Van Dyke Brown", explore more songs by River Whyless using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for River Whyless · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Van Dyke Brown" is credited to River Whyless. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Van Dyke Brown" appears on "Kindness, A Rebel" in 2018.

Visit the River Whyless artist page at /artist/river-whyless for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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