Big River

He came up from the country looking for a job of work

He came from a town that died a slow hard death

And when the train pulled into Spencer Street he was fast asleep

He opened one eye and he took a long deep breath

On the first day he was dazed by the noise and by the bustle

He sat in the square and tried so hard to think

Found a cheap hotel and booked himself a room all damp and shabby

He sat in the bar he bought himself a drink

He sang: "Flow river flow flow to the sea

Flow on big river bring my dreams back home to me "

He rose early on the second day

And watched the dirty struggle of the dawn

To rise above the smoke and haze

And armed with a map he made his way from factory to foundry

Joined the queues of the unskilled labourers

Then an old man came shook his hand

Sat right there beside him

And he heard the tale of rural poverty

Shook his head and with a tear he said

"All that you have told me

Is like having my own story told to me "

He sang: "Flow river flow flow to the sea

Flow on big river bring my dreams back home to me "

Drinking harder every night

He made himself keep searching

Till he found he could not rise to greet the day

And he lay behind a vale of tears on the Yarra bank that morning

And he wondered how the hell things got this way

Late that night he stumbled from an inner city bar

Barely conscious down the alley he did sway

And they beat him they sank the boot in

And they took his last four dollars

Left him dying in the dawn it was Saturday

He sang: "Flow river flow flow to the sea

Flow on big river bring my dreams back home to me "

Flow river flow flow to the sea

Flow on big river bring my dreams back home to me

Flow river flow oh flow on to the sea

Flow on big river bring my dreams bring them home to me