I've lived upon this river shore since I was very small

I've watched the seasons turning and I've watched the trees grow tall

I've seen the factories coming, they cluster on the shore

They dump their waste into our lake, and every day there's more



chorus:

Oh lovely waters that have carried my canoe

Cuyahoga River, what have they done to you?



Once we would go fishing in rowboats every dawn

Now all we see is tanker ships, and all the fish are gone

We could see trout swimming full twenty feet below

But now the water's turned to ink no matter where we row



Our river it was clean and clear, we'd swim there everyday

Now it's far too dangerous, a fence keeps us away

The sun upon the water shone sparkling and royal

But now we see a rainbow from reflections in the oil



Late last Friday I drove home, smelled fire in the air

Couldn't tell the origin, the smoke was everywhere

A sheet of flame rose through the clouds, it cut them like a knife

I saw the river up in flame and giving up its life



Now the ashes settle on a charred and cindered lake

Staying by this shoreline is a terrible mistake

But the Cuyahoga's seen me grow, and now I've seen it die

Figure I'll stay by it, though I cannot tell you why



words and music by Kristin Lems c MCMLXXXIII Kleine Ding Music (BMI