What were they thinking 
When they dug that hole 
And bulldozed that town down 
Wall by wall 
Laying the asphalt and 
Diverting that rolling river 
So there'd be water for us all 
I got some photographs 
I don't know if they're us or not 
Ah but my memories fading fast 
They might as well take that too 
It's no use to me or you 
I guess it was not designed to last 

I heard you live there now 
And that you've settled down 
And accepted the vastness of it all 
Maybe i'll write a letter 
Cos i've heard that life's much better 
On the other side of the reservoir 

Well time has a funny way 
Of doubling back on itself 
And showing the things that really last 
Was it just yesterday 
You left for greener pastures 
Or was that way back in the past 
I got some photographs 
Of a long lost valley 
Now filled with water shore to shore 
That rolls under miles of land 
Right down to new york city 
But at least no one's thirsty any more 

I heard you live there now 
And that you've settled down 
And accepted the vastness of it all 
Maybe i'll get in touch 
I've heard that there's so much 
On the other side of the reservoir 

So what were they thinking 
When they dug that hole 
And flooded the meadows green and fair 
Was it so satisfying 
They didn't hear people crying 
As they watched their lives 
Get moved elsewhere 

Well I hear the trees grow tall 
By that retaining wall 
And there's always a rainbow in the sky 
Maybe i'll write a letter 
Cos i've heard that life's much better 
On the other side of the reservoir 
On the other side of the reservoir