| City life was gettin' us down |
| So we spent a weekend out of town |
| Pitched the 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 |
| Said, come in the water’s fine |
| Down by the river |
| Down by the river |
| Down by the river |
| I 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 |
| We 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 |
| 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 factory |
| 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 river banks will die |
| And 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 its head |
| Will be a clean white skull 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 |