Once the Sachems
Told a story
Of a land the great spirits blessed
And the people followed the legend
From the great waters in the West
And they stopped where they found that the fishin' was good
Earth was fertile
And game ran in the woods
And now, I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both ways
I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both ways
First came the trappers
Next came the traders
Their own fortunes
Were fortified
And the valley
Treated them kindly
So the farmers followed close behind
Then the sloop sail was laden round the battery
With flour from Yonkers
Furs from Albany
And I could be happy just spending my days on the river that flows both ways
Yes, I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both ways
Writers and painters
Have shown its beauty
In its waters and on the shore
While musicians
Sing its praises
Keep alive the rivers lure
With the sunsetin' golden o'er the Palisades
Afternoon ends
The daylight fades
And I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both ways
I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both ways
N' Maybe its the moonshine
Maybe its the starlight
Reflected off good old Haverstraw bay
Maybe its the fog that rolls off the catskill mountains
At the break of a brand new day
But apple cider and pumpkins
Strawberries and corn
Make the people of the river
Glad they were born
And now I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both ways
I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both ways
I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both ways