When I was quite young
(I had learned to fear)
I was taught to listen
(But not to hear)
From my mother's arms
I was cruelly torn
And they whipped my ass
On the day I was born
Little brother he died
(At the age of five)
Said he lost his soul
('Cause he was not baptized)

And the river it flows
(And the heavens cry)
And we'll all be drowned
In the river
In the river
In the river
In the river

I remember my sister
(On her saddest day)
When the boy she loved
(Had been called away)
Seems he gave his life
(In a foreign land)
Still my sister cries
(She never understands)
Now the world is hard
(And the cowards lie)
And the fool loves war
(And the gentle die)

And the river it flows
(And the heavens cry)
And we'll all be drowned
In the river
In the river
In the river
In the river

Well, we built a dam
(When the first rains fell)
We built it high
(And we built it well)
Well, the waters rose
(Like a beast from hell)
Now the house is gone
(And the town as well)
So we gather here
(For a silent prayer)
For the lives we lost
(And the love we share)

Still the river it flows
(And the heavens cry)
And we'll all be found
In the river
In the river
In the river
In the river

In the river
In the river
In the river