Down by the River Lyrics

[Albert Hammond/Mike Hazlewood]

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 the top of mine
You said; "Come in, the water's fine"
Down by the river

Down by the river
Down by the river
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 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
A silver fish lay on its side
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

"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
And in time the riverbanks will die
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
Will be a clean 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