Story Behind The Song
Having been very moved by Flannery O'Connor's short story "The River" I wrote this song while sitting next to my dying grandmother. She had been baptized just a couple of months before in preparation to meet her maker.
Song Description
A musical retelling of Flannery O'Connor's short story of the same name.
| Song Length |
4:26 |
Genre |
Country - Alternative, Folk - Contemporary |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Passive, Poignant |
Subject |
Life, Spirituality |
| Similar Artists |
Jim Croce, Willie Nelson |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
City lights burn in the fog
The embers flicker on the last log
Bodies of strangers around me lay
Country woman comes to take me away
Take me away and wash me clean
Far from the people and the streets so mean
Take me away and end my strife
Up to the river that saves my life
Children chase me around the year
Help me forget my days so hard
A permanent rest is what I seek
Words in my throat that are hard to speak
Take me away and wash me clean
Far from the people and the streets so mean
Take me away and end my strife
Down to the river that saves my life
People come from miles around
To come and stand upon sacred ground
The preacher man asks for a choice
He tells us our sins in a loud voice
What will you do?
The river is quiet and never speaks
The gentle spirit is what she seeks
I?m pulled in by my heart?s joy
And it?s said, ?Now you count boy!?
Take me away and wash me clean
Far from the people and the streets so mean
Take me away and end my strife
Back to the river that saves my life
Got to go back???