The River Hymn

The River Hymn (2000 Digital Remaster) - The Band

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 it's 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