Standard (EADGBE)

From the fountains in the mountains

comes the water running cool and clear and blue.

And it comes down from the hills

and it goes down to the towns and passes through.

When it gets down to the cities,

then the water turns into a dirty gray.

It's poisoned and polluted

by the people as it goes along its way.

Don't go near the water children,

see the fish all dead upon the shore.

Don't go near the water,

cause the water isn't water any-more.

I took my boy fishin' to my old favorite fishin' hole.

I had caught many a fish out of that deep, clear water,

From the time I was a boy like him.

After we'd fished a few minutes, he said: "Did you get a bite yet daddy?"

I said: "I think I got a nibble son."

"Me too", he said.

Then he said: "Daddy if we catch a fish can we eat it?"

I said: "Well there was a time son.

This water's bad now and I might not be safe to eat the fish, but there was a time."

There was a time the air was clean

and you could see forever cross the plains.

The wind was sweet as honey

and no one had ever heard of acid rain.

We're torturin' the earth

and pourin' every kind of evil in the sea.

We violated nature

and our children have to pay the penal-ty.

Don't go near the water children,

see the fish all dead upon the shore.

Don't go near the water,

cause the water isn't water any-more.

Don't go near the water children,

see the fish all dead upon the shore.

Don't go near the water,

cause the water isn't water any-more.