Town clock stopped tickin, but it aint broken Got a problem that no one can define While that river keeps on a-flowin Hang on children, its a matter of time Angry child, impatience growin Waits with her father in that unemployment line While that river goes on a-flowin Hang on darlin, its a matter of time Scarecrow watchin years of growin With floods of asphalt creepin closer each time While that river goes on a-flowin Hang on brother, its a matter of time Sparrow, shes sleepin with now way of knowin Whats goin on inside those telephone lines Below, that river keeps on a-flowin Hang on sister its a matter of time Some say God created man, his likeness showin I do believe theyve got it backwards this time Somehow that river goes on a-flowin Hang on children, its a matter of time Tainted river flows to the ocean That coughs up on the shore its poisonous brine Why dont that river just stop a-flowin Hang on children, its a matter of time