City life was getting us down, so we spent the weekend out of 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 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 Came across a stranger's sight, down by the river Silverfish lay on its side, it was washed up by the early tide Wonder how it died, down by the river Down by the river, down by the river Silverfish lay on its side, down by the river Doctor put us both to bed, toasted us and he shook his head Only fooling people's voices, 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, 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 stall 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 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 Down by the river