The Gaslight Anthem - The Navesink Banks lyrics

All hope abandon, ye who enter here
Said the sign I read that
Was hangin' above her bed
And the sirens all were wailin'
But a man can ignore the signs
Gotta keep a good eye on
The windin' road ahead

And my first sin was a young American girl
My first sin was a young American girl

And I spent time 'neath the trestles
With the punks and the dime store saints
Kept faith and a switchblade
Tucked beneath my coat
And I ran with dirty angels
Slept out in the rain
We were scared and tired and barely 17

And my first sin was a fear that made me old
My first sin was a fear that made me old



Now I walk down by the shipyards
Near the place where I was born
Sayin' "Oh, Maria, if you'da known me when"

But she only smiles
By the light on the Navesink banks
Sayin' "Listen baby, I know you now"

Then she steps into the river
And I just stand by the moon
Thinkin' 'bout a ghost I hear at night

And she says "Your first sin was
A lie you told yourself"
"Your first sin was a lie you told yourself"