| I) Source
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| From these rivers of gold i grew
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| Panning silent silt-filled waters
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| The trinkets on my arms speak truths
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| Stories of wealth in these swift waters
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| Chi’n sha' jiang — river of golden sand
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| From these distant mountains you bring
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| Precious gold our future with you
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| Amongst grit and sand we sing
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| Hands held in prayer our hopes renewed
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| Chi’n sha' jiang — river of golden sand
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| Limestone cliffs rise either side
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| Junks attempt to fight fierce tides
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| Sampan chase the upstream winds
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| The river rages still
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| Hammers smashing rocks for miles
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| Factories choke the township tiles
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| Ferries spew their diesel oil
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| In glossy rainbow films
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| Ta' jiang .ta' jiang
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| From sources pure you gave to us
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| A future for our grandsons new
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| Respect was all you asked of us
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| In return we stole your future too
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| Chi’n sha' jiang — river of golden sand
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| Limestone cliffs rise either side
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| II) spirit (instrumental)
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| III) vision
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| Not fifty years from now
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| The world will look like this
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| So bleak in this harsh land
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| A damp and crowded bliss
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| Cold and hunger grey-filled skies
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| Amidst this sulpherous thunder
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| If i could see the future
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| It’s written in these tides
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| Woman, man and child
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| Hard work is all they know
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| Crude tools to do their chores
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| And the farmers work their land
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| And chase their hunger on rain-filled
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| Streets of stone their pushcarts thunder
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| If i could see the future — it’s written in these tides
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| If i could see the future — it’s here before my eyes
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| IV) rage (instrumental)
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| V) finale
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| Concrete banks rise either side
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| Sewers spill their putrid tide
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| Corpses take their lurid way
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| The river rages still
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| Of great importance to them all
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| This mighty river thunders through
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| Habitat laid low by man
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| Forever lost in time
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| Ta' jiang .ta' jiang
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| (unconquered spirit, how could we chain you?) |