How Samson Bore Away the Gates of Gaza

Once, in a night as black as ink

She drove him out when he would not drink

Round the house there were men in wait

Asleep in rows by the Gaza gate

But the Holy Spirit was in this man

Like a gentle wind he crept and ran

It is midnight,' said the big town clock

He lifted the gates up, post and lock

The hole in the wall was high and wide

When he bore away old Gaza's pride

Into the deep of the night

The bold Jack-Johnson Israelite

Samson, the Judge, the Nazarite

The air was black, like the smoke of a dragon

Samson's heart was as big as a wagon

He sang like a shining golden fountain

He sweated up to the top of the mountain

He threw down the gates with a noise like judgment

And the quails all ran with the big arousement

But he wept: I must not love tough queens

And spend on them my hard-earned means

I told that girl I would drink no more

Therefore she drove me from her door

Oh, sorrow

Sorrow

I cannot hide!

O Lord, look down from your chariot side!

You made me Judge, and I am not wise

I am weak as a sheep for all my size

Let Samson

Be coming

Into your mind

The moon shone out, the stars were gay

He saw the foxes run and play

He rent his garments, he rolled around

In deep repentance on the ground

Then he felt a honey in his soul

Grace abounding made him whole

Then he saw the Lord in a chariot blue

The gorgeous stallions whinnied and flew

The iron wheels hummed an old hymn-tune

And crunched in thunder over the moon

And Samson shouted to the sky

My Lord, my Lord is riding high

Like a steed, he pawed the gates with his hoof

He rattled the gates like rocks on the roof

And danced in the night

On the mountain-top,

Danced in the deep of the night

The Judge, the holy Nazarite

Whom ropes and chains could never bind

Whirling his arms, like a top he sped

His long black hair flew round his head

Like an outstretched net of silky cord

Like a wheel of the chariot of the Lord

Let Samson

Be coming

Into your mind

Samson saw the sun anew

He left the gates in the grass and dew

He went to a country- county-seat a-nigh

Found a harlot proud and high

Philistine that no man could tame

Delilah was her lady-name

Oh, sorrow

Sorrow

She was too wise!

She cut off his hair

She put out his eyes

Let Samson

Be coming

Into your mind