There’s a cold rain on the Autumn wind A brother murdered in Sydney Town Marrickville brother under legal cover In his home they gunned him down And we say oh oh oh oh oh ooooooh And they shot him down
And we say oh oh oh oh oh ooooooh Sad river of tears Two hundred years in the river of fear
Well they took him out at point blank range In his home with his small young son Shot him dead in his Marrickville bed With a pump action 12 gauge shotgun Oh oh oh oh oh oooooh And they shot him down
And we say oh oh oh oh oh ooooooh Sad river of tears Two hundred years in the river of fear
You left a fatherless child and a grieving wife A black fugitive on the run Running from two centuries Of oppressions loaded gun And we say oh oh oh oh oh oooooh Oh, they shot you down Sad river of tears Two hundred years in the river of fear Oh, they shot you down Sad river of tears Two hundred years
You got your terrorists dressed in uniform Under the protection of their law Terrorise blacks in dawns of fear They come crashin’ through your door You’re not safe out there on freedom street You’re not safe inside the "can" For their shotguns and their stunt gas They’re licenced to drop you where you stand We say oh oh oh oh oooooh And they shot you down Sad river of tears Two hundred years in the river of fear They shot you down Sad river of tears Two hundred years
You got cold rain on the Autumn wind A brother murdered in Sydney Town Marrickville brother under legal cover In his home they gunned him down You’re not safe out there on freedom street You’re not safe inside the "can" For their shotguns and their stunt gas They’re licenced to drop you where you stand
We're singing oh oh oh oh oooooh And they shot you down Sad river of tears Two hundred years in the river of fear