town clock stopped tickin´, but it ain´t broken
got a problem that no one can define
while that river keeps on a-flowin´
hang on children, it´s a matter of time

angry child, impatience growin´
waits with her father in that unemployment line
while that river goes on a-flowin´
hang on darlin´, it´s a matter of time

scarecrow watchin´ years of growin´
with floods of asphalt creepin´ closer each time
while that river goes on a-flowin´
hang on brother, it´s a matter of time

sparrow, she´s sleepin´ with now way of knowin´
what´s goin´ on inside those telephone lines
below, that river keeps on a-flowin´
hang on sister it´s a matter of time

some say god created man, his likeness showin´
i do believe they´ve got it backwards this time
somehow that river goes on a-flowin´
hang on children, it´s a matter of time

tainted river flows to the ocean
that coughs up on the shore its poisonous brine
why don´t that river just stop a-flowin´
hang on children, it´s a matter of time