City life was getting us down
So we spent a weekend out town
Pitched our tent on a patch of ground
Down by the river
Lit a fire and drank some wine
You put your jeans on top of mine
I said, "Come in, the water's fine"
Down by the river
Down by the river
Down by the river
Said, "Come in, the water's fine"
Down by the river
Didn't feel too good all night
So we took a walk in the morning light
And came across the strangest sight
Down by the river
Silver fish lay on its side
It was washed up by the early tide
I wonder how it died
Down by the river
Down by the river
Down by the river
The doctor put us both to bed
He dosed us up and he shook his head
"Only foolish people go," he said
Down by the river.
"The mighty willows weep," said he
"Because they're dying gradually.
From the waste from the factories"
Down by the river
Down by the river
Down by the river
And in time the riverbanks will die
The reeds will wilt and the ducks won't fly
There'll be a tear in the otter's eye
Down by the river
The banks will soon be black and dead
And where the otter raised his head
Will be a clean white skull instead.
Down by the river
Down by the river
Down by the river