Red White and Black

Take the old man to the river is 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 is 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 lace
 And roll with the field like a flag that is waving
 And the black rows that sew their own chain
 Get a dollar worth of calico for their newborn baby
 And the bell sends a key to the lock
 And a whistle on 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 is cut from the loom
 Bears the black and white stripe of a cotton field rolling
 And the dark mines 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 is 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
 Root and seed
 Take the old man
 To the river is thirsty