pows, natives, deserters,
are slaves everyone
under Japanese gun …
with no where to run.

many a soul
ump-ah, ump-ah
perished in toil
ump-ah, ump-ah
shifting the soil
ump-ah, ump-ah
for a bridge over Kwai

no illusion was pain
ump-ah, ump-ah
working in the rain
ump-ah, ump-ah
in conditions insane
ump-ah, ump-ah
why? to cross o’er Kwai

no doctors, no food
ump-ah, ump-ah
the infections ooze
ump-ah, ump-ah
whippings, beat crude
ump-ah, ump-ah
for a bridge over Kwai

100,000 strong, most died
ump-ah, ump-ah
no punishment was denied
ump-ah, ump-ah
survivors faithfully strived
ump-ah, ump-ah
to forget the River Kwai

pows, natives, deserters,
are slaves everyone
under Japanese gun …
with no where to run.