river's gonna rise

darkness hides the faces

of we who hold the power

we don't need to be rich

we only need to be free

chains of oppression

never gonna break

but a day will come when we hold the key

time will remind us

that the people still have a choice

and we don't want violence

until there's no other choice

but the river's gonna rise

wash our struggles away

the sun is gonna shine

shine down on a brand new day

bells will be ringing

flames reaching to the sky

higher and higher

fueled by the winds of change

sweet taste of freedom

fresh on the tips of our tongues

and the dust of the past is all that shall remain

echoes of our voices

ringing all through the town

will drown out the memories

of the days when we were bound

the river's gonna rise

wash our struggles away

the sun is gonna shine

shine down on a brand new day

yeah

we're gonna rise up singing

like a bird on the wing

a million hearts beating

to the rhythm that the new day brings

the river's gonna rise

the river's gonna rise

the river's gonna rise

wash our struggles away

and the sun is sun is gonna shine

shine down on the brand new day

shine down on the brand new day

shine down on the brand new day