City life was gettin' us down , so we spent a weekend out of town ,
Pitched a 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 ,
You 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 ,
Came upon 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 ,
A silver fish lay on its side down by the river.

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.'
'Why do 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,'Why do willows weep ,' said he
'down by the river?'

In time the riverbanks will die and the reeds will wilt and the dust will
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 its head,
There'll be a clear white scum instead , down by the river.
Down by the river , down by the river ,
The banks will soon be black and dead down by the river.
Down by the river, down by the river,
The banks will soon be black and dead,
down by the river