High above the forest in an unseen place Where the clouds will gather on another race In the dungeon depths of an unknown cave There’s a stream that springs with a world to save And it gathers up strength as it rolls along And it gathers up hope for everyone But it runs to plains where the farmlands weep Through the brand new gardens where rich men sleep I’m gonna find it, I’m gonna prove it And show the whole damned world how to use it When I find it, when I prove it I know that some damned fool is gonna lose it For it’s the river of hope, from the pool of tears It’s the river of hope, it’s the river we lost for years Past the chemical plant where the junk flows in By the nuclear project where the children swim Under bridges in a city where the bodies float And the summer smell keeps the flies remote I’m gonna find it, I’m gonna prove it And show the whole damned world how to use it When I find it, when I prove it I know that some damned fool is gonna lose it For it’s the river of hope, from the pool of tears It’s the river of hope, it’s the river we lost for years Through the swamp of a ghetto where the mission was lost Where the dope is king and the silver boss Past the trash and wreckage from the garbage trucks Past the oil slick where the jail boat docks To a home in some sea at the nations end Where the submarine is freedom’s friend If we need that river like we did before There can be no need for it lives no more I’m gonna find it, I’m gonna prove it And show the whole damned world how to use it When I find it, when I prove it I know that some damned fool is gonna lose it For it’s the river of hope, from the pool of tears It’s the river of hope, it’s the river we lost for years For it’s the river of hope, from the pool of tears It’s the river of hope, it’s the river we lost for years