[Rhythmic Intro] [Rhythm: Slow, heavy foot-stomps on beats 1 and 3, crisp hand-claps on beats 2 and 4] (Female Vocalists 1 & 2 - Soft Dual Harmonies: Ooh... down by the river... down by the river side...) [Verse 1] (Gritty Male Lead): I’m gonna drop every heavy weight I’m carrying, down where the waters flow, Down by the river bank, where the quiet waters go. Laying down all the heavy burdens that weighed upon my mind, Down by the river bank, leaving every stress behind. (Female Backing Vocals: Down by the river... leaving it all behind...) (Gritty Male Lead): No more conflict, no more strife, no more waging war, I ain't gonna train for the fight no more! (Female Backing Vocals: Ain't gonna fight no more!) [Refrain - Acapella Call & Response] (Female Vocalists 1 & 2 - Soaring Harmony Lead): I ain’t gonna study war no more, (Male Lead: Nah, no more war, no more street strife) Ain’t gonna study war no more, (Male Lead: Put the weapons down, change a life) Ain’t gonna study war no more, (Male Lead: Right down by the water side!) I ain’t gonna study war no more! [Verse 2] (Gritty Male Lead): I’m gonna lay down my weapons, put the armor and shield away, Down by the river bank, entering a brand new day. No more defensive walls, no more anger in my chest, Down by the river bank, finding true relief and rest. (Female Backing Vocals: Lay down the shield... finding true rest...) [Rhythm Shift - Claps Double Up] [Rhythm: Hand claps double up to a fast, syncopated street beat with chest-pats and floor stomps] [UK Street Rap Verse - The Core Message] (Gritty Male Lead): Yeah, look— Too many years spent walking with my fists clenched tight, Surviving in the ends, looking over shoulders in the night. Chasing retaliation, thinking power comes from force, Till the anger tore through everything and left us feeling lost. (Female Vocals: Put the weapons down...) Nah, I walked down to the water, looked the hatred in the eye, Real strength ain't about who lives or who dies. Real strength is the courage to surrender all the pain, To break the cycle on the road and walk out of the rain. Lay down the pride, lay down the blades, lay down the fear, There’s a power in the peace that’s drawing near. We spent a lifetime studying war, studying conflict and greed, Now we’re studying the mercy and the healing that we need. (Female Vocals - Soaring Harmonies: No more war... lay it at the river...) Yeah, from the concrete pavement to the peaceful shore, I’m stepping out of the shadows—I ain’t fighting no more! [Verse 3] (Gritty Male Lead): Gonna put on a clean white robe, washed clean from the inside, Down by the river bank, where no darkness has to hide. Gonna wear a crown of promise, shining bright in heavenly grace, Down by the river bank, looking at a holy face. (Female Backing Vocals: Starry crown... stepping in the light...) [Refrain - Final High Energy] (Female Vocalists 1 & 2 - Full Power Harmonies): I ain’t gonna study war no more, (Male Lead: Never again, man, no more war) Ain’t gonna study war no more, (Male Lead: Peace in the spirit, peace in the soul) Ain’t gonna study war no more, (Male Lead: Down by the river!) I ain’t gonna study war no more! [Outro] [Rhythm: Hand-claps slow down to a steady, rhythmic pulse] (Female Vocalists 1 & 2 - Gentle Chords): Down by the riverside... down by the riverside... (Gritty Male Lead - Spoken word over claps): No more war. No more weapons. Straight peace from here on out. (Female Vocalists 1 & 2 - Fading Harmony: Ain't gonna study war... no more...) [Final loud hand clap and sharp boot stomp]
