The River Hymn

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

Till 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