US #91 for Albert Hammond in 1972
The same melody was used for Cerca del r?o (Down by the river is the original).
Albert Hammond (writer, recording artist): Down by the river is a song about pollution. When we got to Los Angeles the pollution thing was like a big thing here, and obviously, there's a lot of pollution here. (Albert on the telephone with Reto, Copyright ?2002 by Reto)
City life was gettin' us down
So we spent a weekend outa 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 to good all night
So we took a walk in the morning light
And 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
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
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 riverDown by the river
Down by the river
The banks will soon be black and dead
Down by the river
