The river at Appleton is bleak in the autumn
The rain it rains on everyone
There once was a lad I loved to distraction
But he loved me not, I was foolish and too young

This lad was handsome and wealthy and funny
The rain it rains on the fairest of the fair
His smile was as wide as the Thames at Old Ditton
And his eyes were as blue as the heavens I declare

One day I saw him take the path to the river
The rain it rains and I never ask why
He ran down the hill with his friends at his side
That last day of summer and the larks sang on high

Well, I followed them down the hill at a distance
The rain it rains, raining ever on me
They were fooling around, they were merry as ponies
And I longed, how I longed that he'd look with love on me.

Then I was determined to show I could be merry
The rain it rains and the river runs deep
I called to him laughing, I danced down the towpath
But the bank here was muddy, and slippery and steep

It seemed time stood still as I fell to the water
The rain it rains over all that I've done
It was deep by the willows, and black mud at the bottom
I was lost underwater and thought all hope was gone

Then there was a hand I was found underwater
The rain it rains and there's death in the air
I was pulled up the bank and a jacket put round me
But when I came to, I saw my love wasn't there.

They told me he'd seen me fall, dived in to save me
The water is deep and the waters still churn
He was caught in the weeds there that could have ensnared me
And drowned before others could save him in return

So I'm sitting here by the Thames in the moonlight
The rain it rains if you live or you die
And I'll pray for his soul as the river runs by me
The water is deep and I'll never again be dry.