The River Hymn

[Piano Intro - slow gospel thang] Starts in 3/4 [Verse] The ladies would put the baskets on the table And the men would sit beneath a shady tree     The children would listen to a fable While something else came through to   me The river got no end    just roll around the bend Then pretty soon the women would all join in On the river hymn... The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river We are gathered here to give a little thanks  thanks The voice of the rapids will echo   And ricochet like an old water well Who d ever want to let go Once you sit beneath its spell It’s dark and wide and deep     towards the sea it creeps I’m so glad I brought along my mandolin To play the river hymn... You can ride on it or drink it Poison it or dam it Fish in it and wash in it Swim in it and you can die in it Run you river run Son you ain’t never seen yourself No crystal mirror can show it clear come over here instead Son you ain’t never eased yourself Til you laid it down in a river     bed If you hear a lonesome drone it’s as common as a stone And gets louder as the day  grows dim   That’s the river hymn... The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river We are gathered here to give a little thanks  thanks