On an island in the river how that bitter river ran
I lived on scraps of charity in the best way that you can
On an island in the river where I grew to be a man.
And just across the river stood the mighty BHP
It poured pollution on the water the lead of misery
And its smoke was black as hades flowing hungry to the sea.
And dole bread is bitter bread, bitter bread and sour
There's grief in the taste of it there's weevils in the flour
There's weevils in the flour.
In those humpies by the river we lived on dole and stew
While just across the water those greedy smokestacks grew
And the hunger of the many filled the bellies of the few.
And dole bread is bitter bread, bitter bread and sour
There's grief in the taste of it there's weevils in the flour
There's weevils in the flour.
On an island in the river how that bitter river ran
And it broke the banks of their charity and it baked the bread of man
On an island in the river where I grew to be a man.
And dole bread is bitter bread, bitter bread and sour.
There's grief in the taste of it there's
Weevils in the flour. There's weevils in the flour.
On an island in the river how the bitter river ran and
I grew on scraps of charity in the best way that you can.
On an island in the river, yes I grew to be a man.
And dole bread is bitter bread there's weevils in the flour
But men grew hard as iron upon that black
Bread and sour, that black bread and sour.
And dole bread is bitter bread, bitter bread and sour.
There's grief in the taste of it there's
Weevils in the flour, there's weevils in the flour.