I feel the irons on my wrist
And lament it's come to this
When they hang me from the gallows tree
"Such as life" you'll hear me hiss
I'm not the reddest handed bandit here
But I'm the one who'll take the fall
This smoking gun's been smothered by
The long arm of the law.
The Chaplin says: "The end is started
And your Judgement has begun
Prayers can lead to God's forgiveness
For all the foolish things you've done
You've got tonight to find some peace of mind
Before you leave this world"
I hope and pray that I may never
Get what I deserve
Take me down to the river, Preacher, take me by the hand
Take me down to the river, mend the soul of a broken man
Drown me in forgiveness, wash these bloody hands of mine
Take me down to one last river
Let me testify.
I believe in God's benevolence
And I have seen with my own eyes
In the river just outside the gate
Sunday sinners get baptized
And I'll pray for my redemption
But I'm quite sure that he won't hear
I've never had that watered cross
Trickle in my ear.
The chaplain's face it grew sadder,
He said "you've not been christened, Son?"
"No," I said, and I hung my head
"Is there nothing to be done?
If I could get down to that river
Can't you see how cleansed I'd be?
The latest lamb, in God's hands.
And my soul would be set free."
Take me down to the river, Preacher, take me by the hand
Take me down to the river, mend the soul of a broken man
Drown me in forgiveness, wash these bloody hands of mine
Take me down to one last river
Let me testify.
You better testify.
They take me to the river banks
Two guards and the chaplain.
The moonlight shines on the holy tides
My prayers have been answered
I take my sodden walk to Jesus
All piety and grace
The guards release my shackles
But they cannot read my face
The deepest breath that I can take
As I plunge under the water
The chaplain had the kindest ways
He could have been a whole lot smarter
Two kicks and I'm traveling
Beneath the muddy waters gleam
And by the time I take a second breath,
I'm a hundred yards downstream.
Take me down to the river, Preacher, take me by the hand
Take me down to the river, mend the soul of a broken man
Drown me in forgiveness, wash these bloody hands of mine
Take me down to one last river, Lord
Let me testify
Take me down to the river, Preacher, take me by the hand
Take me down to the river, mend the soul of a broken man
Drown me in forgiveness, wash these bloody hands of mine
Take me down to one last river, Lord
Let me testify
Testify
Testify