There's a cold rain on the Autumn wind A brother murdered in Sydney Town Marrickville brother under supposed legal cover In his home they gunned him down We say oh oh oh oh oh ooooooh Gunned him down Sad river of tears Two hundred years in the river of fear Gunned him down They took him out at point blank range In his home with his small young son Shot him dead in his Marrickville bed With a pump action 12 gauge shotgun Fatherless child and a grieving wife A black fugitive on the run On the run from two centuries Of oppressions loaded gun We say oh oh oh oh oh oooooh Gunned him down Sad river of tears Two hundred years in the river of fear Gunned him down Terrorists dressed in uniform Under the protection of their law Terrorise blacks in dawns of fear They come smashin' through your door You're not safe out there on freedom street You're not safe inside the "can" For their shotguns and their stunt gas They're licenced to drop you where you stand We say oh oh oh oh oooooh Sad river of tears Two hundred years in the river of fear Gunned him down Oh oh oh oh oooooh Gunned him down Oh oh oh oh oooooh