is anything as lovely to me
as the truth in love
i'll take it over freedom any day
it brings me ever an' this time to my knees
an' on my knees i run away

yes i know your sticks and stones they
they will easily break these bones an'
an' all my words come back to haunt me
i will put my strength into
the things left standing
i am hoarse with wild eyes
no debts outstanding

my hands are yours my brother
you can take my coat as well
my eyes are yours sister
and my heart, and my heart
in which he dwells

heard the voice of my master callin' me
from deep in the hollow
said that I must follow him there yeah
is any place darker for me
with all them wolves about
well it's a poor mouth that I wear

my hands are yours my brother
you can take my coat as well
my eyes are yours sister
and my heart, and my heart
in which he dwells

livin' from hand to poor mouth
you an' me an' my secret south

 

SILVER SADDLE

tonight you've caught your breath
you've lost your american spirit
if only i could catch my death yeah
jus' give me long enough to fear it

her talk ain't like the other girls
she takes my livin' at a glance
we hear the locust's rasp back and forth
an' through the thoughts the past does dance

do i waste my time
yeah well you know it
an' as i stroll through the room
see my features show it

feel the hand on my shoulder
yeah it calls me to dwell
take a breath hard an' clear yeah
like a hammer on a church bell

 

PRAYING ARM LANE

well hey i been down that a way
with a dream on my arm
yet me an' my love we could not stay
we heard voices of children
an' by little hands were led astray

all the boughs bend for us
all the earth awaits thee
all the stones they will cry out
an' ev'ry tongue confess thee

oh my dream come an' take me quickly
'fore the struggle take me
yeah lay me down any way you choose
an' let the voices of our children wake me

the boughs they all will bend for us
an' all the earth awaits thee
all the stones they will cry out
yes an' ev'ry tongue confess thee

an' though the word yes
it falls on deaf ears
it is spoken jus' the same
the word is stands
look straight at ev'ry man
from kings down to the lay

well i told it fast an' glad
the color of a sloe drink
or so they say
so they say by the light of day
hidden 'neath their wings
of black, brown an' grey
the boughs they all will bend for us
an' all the earth awaits thee
all the stones they will cry out
an' ev'ry tongue confess thee

an' though the word yes
it falls on deaf ears
it is spoken jus' the same
the word is stands
look straight at ev'ry man
from kings down to the lay

 

SPLINTERS

self sent a twister
a tearin' after me
gonna bust my house to splinters yes
an' take all that's dear to me

you say you saw it comin' yeah
but still you did not flee
i was too weak i couldn't move
held by growth of a tree

an' yes i fell upon that rock
i did not die jus' badly broken
an' in time my healin' it will come yeah
by the words that he has spoken
i fell upon that rock

who is it now that loves you
straight in the front door
an' crooked out the back yeah
what is it now you're a slave to
on your knees out in your shack

i fell upon that rock yeah
he's beyond the shadow
of your doubt an' mine
he's no man's opinion
he is truth divine

self sent a twister
a tearin' after me
done bust my house to splinters yeah
an' took all that's dear to me

who is it now that loves you
straight in the front door
an' crooked out the back yeah
what is it now that you pray to
as your world begins to crack

i fell upon that rock yeah
he's beyond the shadow
of your doubt an' mine
he's no man's opinion
he is truth divine

an' yes i fell upon that rock
i did not die jus' badly broken
an' in time my healin' came yeah
by the words that he had spoken

 

hey mister with your iron feet yeah
never waver from your path
you think you got a way with somethin' boy
well see his hand an' feel his staff
hey you got a way with words alright yeah
an' quite a way with the ladies
your thoughts are troubled
as you hang a left
no there ain't no maybes

come an' sing me down
give my conscience a poundin'
come an' shake my ground lord
with the sound of heaven's houndin'

you're thinkin' when this is all over
we'll all sit back an' laugh
well i don't think so friend 'cause
i done the math
and i ain't lookin' to gain any honor
no, no not among you thieves
i'll be right beside you though
in judgement on my knees

come an' sing me down
give my conscience a poundin'
come an' shake my ground lord
with the sound of heaven's houndin'

now here you come a draggin'
jus' couldn't help yourself
puttin' on your poor mouth an'
takin' from his wealth
o you come up proper
you ride a faithless steed
took you down the wrong road
ye' in word an' in deed

come an' sing us down
give our conscience a poundin'
come an' shake our ground lord
with the sound of heaven's houndin'

come an' take our crowns lord
give our conscience a poundin'
come an' take our crown lord
with the sound of heaven's houndin'

 

WAYFARING STRANGER (Traditional)

i'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
travelin' through a world of woe
ain't no sickness, toil, nor danger
in that bright land to which i go

i'm goin' there to see my father
said he'd meet me when i come
i'm only goin' over jordan
i'm only goin' over home

i know dark clouds gonna gather 'round me
i know my way it'll be rough and steep
yet beautiful fields lie just before me
where god's redeemed did vigils keep

i'm goin' there to see my loved ones
gone before me one by one
i'm only goin' over jordan
i'm only goin' over home

i'll soon be free from earthly trials
this body rests in the orchard's yard
i'll drop this cross of self-denial
and go singing home to god

i'm goin' there to see my savior
to dwell with him no more to roam
i'm only goin' over jordan
i'm only goin' over home
i'm only goin' over home

 

CINDER ALLEY

lovely lovely carol sue
i see the heel of the father
crush the head of the serpent for you
an' that beast who found
his way up to your room
you know the one the one
who's colors are never true
yeah you do

yet all the while 'neath
his banner you did stand
'neath the shadow of his wing
do you remember
sorrow stands near an' close at hand
sorrow stands an' in sorrow's hand
the burning ember

he'll come a cinder
fire call the kettle black
the dark can only hinder it
it will not hold you back
nor tear you asunder

and the good shepherd
lo he left all the others
an' went to look for you
yes an' he did find thee
an' with bruised hands
he did unbind thee
brought you out
into the light of day

he'll come a cinder
fire call the kettle black
the dark can only hinder it
it will not hold you back
nor tear you asunder

o come and stand with me mother
as we wait for the master's voice
an' head that way together

he'll come a cinder
fire call the kettle black
the dark can only hinder it
it will not hold you back
nor tear you asunder

 

BURNING BUSH

all the widows watch
through all window sills
hair raisin' in every room
up the street come a walkin' chill
an' you ask for nothin'
'cept to be by my side

see my tears good father
will they wash it away
all my dirt from your holy feet
no i don't believe it works that way
'cause you ask for nothin'
'cept to be by my side

i seen you in the river
before god an' man
held by the holy hand of winter
brought low by winter's holy hand

yes my sister girl
i know that it is true
you see me with the lord's eye girl
an' you see right through
an' you ask for nothin'
is there somethin' behind my eyes

i can look good i swear
when the spirit blows
all ore an' all through yeah
my wretched bones
an' you ask for nothin'
'cept to be by my side love

i seen you in the river
before god an' man
held by the holy hand of winter
brought low by winter's holy hand