Take the old man to the river's mercy
Wearing his father's coat and woven pedigree
Take his old friends from the gentry
To the river, the river is thirsty
Take his old girl to the river's mercy
Wearing a heavy thread heirloom tapestry
Take his old girl with him, his family tree
To the river, the river is thirsty

Take his old blood
His moon and sun
To the river

And the white rows, like ribbons of Lisbon
And roll with the field like a flag that is waving
And the black rows, they sowed their own chain
Get a dollar with a calico for their newborn baby
And the bell sends a key to the lock
And a whistle in the wind that carries the wings
And the guard dogs that catch the call
Put the key to freedom in the hand of Redeemers
Now the iron cloth that's cut from the loom
Bears a black and white stripe of a cotton field rolling
And the dark minds and flame of Redeemers
Put them right back in the iron cloth and the flag is waving

Take his old blood
His moon and sun
To the river, it's thirsty

Take him by the hand to the river
Lead him by the hand into the water
Let the heavy thread drink up the river
Let the heavy thread drag him down to the bottom
Take him by the hand to the river
Lead him by the hand into the water
Let the heavy thread drink up the river
Let the heavy thread drag him down to the bottom
Lead him by the hand to the river
Lead him by the hand into the water
Let the heavy thread drink up the river
Let the heavy thread drag him down

Take his old blood
His moon and sun
You can see
Take the old man
To the river, it's thirsty