Let me tell you all a story ‘bout a girl named Tara Cole
Who slept in Riverfront Park where the Cumberland waters flow
One night two men who didn’t want the homeless comin’ ‘round
Rolled her in the muddy river and young Tara Cole drowned

          American river of tears flowing from sea to once shinin’ sea      
          Beside your banks homeless children lie in wretched misery
          Can’t we read between the lines and warnin’ signs of the times?
          The hole in the sky and in our soul keeps on growin’
          And American river of tears keeps on flowin’

Tara was a meek lowly lamb, they called her “Little Bit”
Though she tried, she often cried, she never could quite fit
In a city with little pity focused on the bottom line
Though in plain daylight she was ignored most all the time

          American river of tears flowing from sea to once shinin’ sea
          Beside your banks homeless children lie in wretched misery
          Can’t we read between the lines and warnin’ signs of the times?
          The hole in the sky and in our soul keeps on growin’
          And American river of tears keeps on flowin’
                   
You know, a mighty nation once united is splittin’ apart at the seams
Like a great ship without a rudder tossed in a nightmare of broken dreams

          Now, we sing this song for Tara Cole that her death be not in vain
          Let’s pull together, help each other, be a united nation once again
          Can’t we read between the lines and warnin’ signs of the times?
          Our children will reap these seeds of hate we’re sowin’
          And American river of tears keeps on flowin’
          American river of tears keeps on flowin’


Copyright Freedom Tracks Music ASCAP.