Story Behind The Song

I wrote this song after reading a newspaper article advising people not to eat the fish from the local rivers

Song Description

This is a song about the way we have moved into and populated this land, while we destroy what is most precious

Lyrics

ACROSS THE RIVER

WE BROUGHT OUR FAMILIES INTO THE FUTURE
IT SHONE AS BRIGHTLY AS THE SUN
THERE WAS HOPE FOR EVERYONE WHO PLANTED ROOTS
AND SETTLED DOWN
THE COMPANY HELPED TO RELOCATE US IN TOWN

THERE WAS A NEW BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER
LIKE A CONNECTION THAT WAS STRONG
TO A DREAM THAT WE BELONGED AND WE BELIEVED
WHAT WE WERE TOLD
AND THE RIVER RAN SO DEEP AND SO COLD

ALMOST EVERY OTHER SUNDAY WE WOULD TAKE A LITTLE RIDE
REMEMBER WHERE WE USED TO PARK ALONG THE RIVERSIDE
THE KIDS PLAYED IN THE SHALLOWS DOWN FROM MY FISHING HOLE
AND THE RIVER RAN SO DEEP AND SO COLD

*AND I SAY OH I LOVE THIS LAND
OH I LOVE THIS LAND
CAUSE I CAN BUILD A BETTER LIFE
WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS
OH I LOVE THIS LAND

WE BUILT THE FACTORIES AND DID OUR SHIFT WORK
ALL OUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
THEY WERE ANSWERED WITH A REASSURING SMILE
NOTHING TO FEAR
AND THE RIVER WILL ALWAYS RUN CLEAR

A DOLLAR HAS NO CONSCIENCE ECONOMICS HAS NO MIND
BIG BUSINESS NEEDS A SEWER AND THE GOVERNMENT IS BLIND
THERE WAS MORE WASTE THAN WE COULD HOLD
AND THE RIVER RAN SO DEEP AND SO COLD

*AND I SAY OH I LOVE THIS LAND
OH I LOVE THIS LAND
CAUSE I CAN BUILD A BETTER LIFE
WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS
OH I LOVE THIS LAND

DON?T TAKE YOUR GRANDSON
DOWN TO THE RIVER
DON?T LET HIM SPLASH AND LAUGH AND RUN
UNTIL HE SHIVERS IN THE SUN
DON?T TRY TO FISH THE FISH WON?T BITE
LONG AGO THEY LOST ALL THEIR FIGHT

WHAT CAN I TELL THEM WHAT CAN I ANSWER
WHEN THEY LOOK ME IN THE EYES
AND THEY ASK THE REASONS WHY DID YOU BELIEVE
WHAT YOU WERE TOLD
AND THE RIVER RAN SO DEEP AND SO COLD


Murray Gable