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