I) Source
From these rivers of gold i grew
Panning silent silt-filled waters
The trinkets on my arms speak truths
Stories of wealth in these swift waters
Chi'n sha' jiang - river of golden sand
From these distant mountains you bring
Precious gold our future with you
Amongst grit and sand we sing
Hands held in prayer our hopes renewed
Chi'n sha' jiang - river of golden sand
Limestone cliffs rise either side
Junks attempt to fight fierce tides
Sampan chase the upstream winds
The river rages still
Hammers smashing rocks for miles
Factories choke the township tiles
Ferries spew their diesel oil
In glossy rainbow films
Ta' jiang... ta' jiang...
From sources pure you gave to us
A future for our grandsons new
Respect was all you asked of us
In return we stole your future too
Chi'n sha' jiang - river of golden sand
Limestone cliffs rise either side...
III) vision
Not fifty years from now
The world will look like this
So bleak in this harsh land
A damp and crowded bliss
Cold and hunger grey-filled skies
Amidst this sulpherous thunder
If i could see the future
It's written in these tides
Woman, man and child
Hard work is all they know
Crude tools to do their chores
And the farmers work their land
And chase their hunger on rain-filled
Streets of stone their pushcarts thunder
If i could see the future - it's written in these tides
If i could see the future - it's here before my eyes
V) finale
Concrete banks rise either side
Sewers spill their putrid tide
Corpses take their lurid way
The river rages still
Of great importance to them all
This mighty river thunders through
Habitat laid low by man
Forever lost in time
Ta' jiang... ta' jiang...
(Unconquered spirit, how could we chain you?)