[Verse 1]
Oh, the women 'cross the river
Carry water from the well at break of day
And they talk to one another
God only knows what they might say
You might get an education
After years of dedication
You might finally get a glimpse
Of what is right and what is wrong
But the women 'cross the river
Well, they knew that all along

[Verse 2]
Oh, the women 'cross the river
Work with tools that are ancient and handmade
And they plow their fields in perfect rows
And then they rest beneath the shade
Now we have learned to build
Out of concrete, out of steel
And our buildings stand a thousand years
But then even they are bound to fall
But the women 'cross the river
Never learned to build a wall

[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
Oh, the women 'cross the river
Are as gentle as the dew upon the ground
How I love to hear them laughing in the rain
When it makes that perfect sound
Now a soldier with a gun and a battle to be won
Might kill you with a bullet
And you'd never even know the reason why
But the women 'cross the river
They can kill you with their eyes
Oh, the women 'cross the river
They can kill you with their eyes