Oh fleet-running river, you're chasing the sea
Apollo is racing to meet thee
Haul the sun down to old silver town
And light the poor banks of the lee
Immortals are coming to factory and slum
Where all the old dockers lie sleeping
Olympus is silent for its use has come down
To sprinkle gold rain in the east end of town
And light the poor banks of the lee
So fleet-running river, you're chasing the sea
Apollo is racing to meet thee
Haul the sun down to old silver town
And light the poor banks of the lee
Well in comes Poseidon, that old stevedore
He's riding the tide to his glory
Billingsgate fishes swim under his sails
Dropping bright dollars like silvery scale
To line the poor banks of the lee
So fleet-running river, you're chasing the sea
Apollo is racing to meet thee
Haul the sun down to old silver town
And light the poor banks of the lee
Now swift Atalanta is leading the race
She's braced for the breezes of England
In come her sisters, the wind in their hair
The daughters of Asia and Africa
To leap the poor banks of the lee
So fleet-running river, you're chasing the sea
Apollo is racing to meet thee
Haul the sun down to old silver town
And light the poor banks of the lee
Then in comes Achilles, he's stronger than steel
But weak for the prize he is seeking
Poverty's specter with gold in his eyes
Austerity, slavery, sacrifice
Do stalk the poor banks of the lee
So fleet-running river, you're chasing the sea
Apollo is racing to meet thee
Haul the sun down to old silver town
And light the poor banks of the lee