I looked out across the river today

I saw a city in the fog and an old church tower

Where the seagulls play

I saw the sad shire horses walking home

In the sodium light

I saw two priests on the ferry

October geese on a cold winter’s night



And all this time, the river flowed

Endlessly, to the sea



Two priests came ‘round our house tonight

One young, one old

To offer prayers for the dying

To serve the final rite

One to learn, one to teach

Which way the cold wind blows

Fussing and flapping in priestly black

Like a murder of crows



And all this time, the river flowed

Endlessly, to the sea



If I had my way, I ‘d take a boat from the river

And I’d bury the old man

I’d bury him at sea



Blessed are the poor, for they shall inherit the earth

Better to be poor than a fat man in the eye of a needle

And as these words were spoken, I swear I hear the old man laughing

“What good is a used up world, and how could it be worth having?”



And all this time, the river flowed

Endlessly, like a silent tear

And all this time, the river flowed

Father, if Jesus exists

Then how come he never lived here?



The teachers told us, the Romans built this place

They built a wall and a temple, an edge of the empire

Garrison Town

They lived and they died, they prayed to their gods

But the stone gods did not make a sound

And their empire crumbled, ‘til all that was left

Were the stones the workmen found



And all this time, the river flowed

In the falling light of a northern sun

If I had my way, I’d take a boat from the river

Men go crazy in congregations

But they only get better

One by one

One by one