Revels RiverSing 2016 Word Sheet 1) RIVER, RIVER (B. Silverman) Chorus River river to the sea. River river carry me. River river by my side. River, river let me ride. Through soft and muddy byways through frozen streams Through em’rald colored landscapes where sunlight gleams The babble of the water through endless time A silent conversation in ancient rhyme, ancient rhyme. Chorus 2) SAIL AWAY, LADIES (Traditional) 4) WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN (C. Gabriel) Ain’t no use to sit and cry I was standing by my window one cold and cloudy day Sail away ladies, sail away. when I saw that hearse come rolling for to carry my You’ll be an angel by and by mother away. Sail away ladies, sail away. Chorus: Will the circle be unbroken, Chorus: by and by Lord, by and by? Don’t you rock ‘em die-dy-o (4x) There’s a better home a-waitin I gotta home in Tennessee in the sky Lord, in the sky. Sail away… That’s the place I wanna be Well I told that undertaker, Sail away… “Undertaker, please drive slow. Chorus For that body you are hauling, Lord I hate to see her go.” Ever I get my new house done Chorus Sail away… I’ll give the old one to my son Well I followed close behind her, tried to hold up and be Sail away… brave. Chorus But I could not hide my sorrow when they laid her in the grave. 3) I’LL FLY AWAY (A. Brumley) Chorus Some bright morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away Went back home Lord, my home was lonesome. Missed To that home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away. my mother. She was gone. All my brothers, sister crying, Chorus: I’ll fly away, O glory, I’ll fly away. What a home so sad and alone. When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I’ll fly away. Chorus When the shadows of this life have grown, I’ll fly away We sang songs, songs of childhood, Like a bird that prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away. Hymns of faith that made us strong. Chorus Ones that mother Maybelle taught us, Hear the angels sing along. Just a few more weary days and then… Chorus To a land where joys will never end… Chorus 5) THE WATER IS WIDE 7) BRING ME LITTLE WATER, SYLVIE (H. Ledbetter) The water is wide, I cannot cross o’er, Neither have I the wings to fly; Bring me little water, Sylvie, bring me little water now; Build me a boat that can carry two Bring me little water, Sylvie, every little once in a while. And both shall row, my love and I. Bring it in a bucket, Sylvie, bring it in a bucket now; A ship there is, and she sails the seas, Bring it in a bucket, Sylvie, every little once in a while. She’s loaded deep, as deep can be, But not as deep as the love I’m in; Don’t you see me comin’? Don’t you see me now? I know not if I sink or swim. Don’t you see me comin’ every little once in a while. I leaned my back against an oak, Gettin’ mighty thirsty Sylvie, getting’ mighty thirsty now; Thinking it was a trusty tree, Gettin’ mighty thirsty, Sylvie, every little once in a while. But first it bent, and then it broke, Just as my love proved false to me. Sylvie come a-runnin, Sylvie come right now; Sylvie come a-runnin’ every little once in a while. O love is handsome and love is kind, {Repeat verse 1} Gay as a jewel when first it’s new – But love grows old and waxes cold And fades away like the morning dew. 8) SWIMMING SONG (L. Wainright III) 6) DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PRAY This summer I went swimming, This summer I might have drowned As I went down in the river to pray, But I held my breath and I kicked my feet Studyin’ about that good ‘ol way And I moved my arms around, moved my arms around. And who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord, show me the way. This summer I swam in the ocean And swam in a swimming pool O, sisters let’s go down Salt my wounds, chlorine my eyes Let’s go down, come on down. I’m a self- destructive fool, self- destructive fool. O sisters, let’s go down Down in the river to pray. This summer I did the backstroke And you know that that’s not all. O brothers…O fathers…O mothers…O sinners I did the breaststroke and the butterfly and the old Australian crawl, the old Australian crawl. This summer I swam in a public place And a reservoir to boot. At the latter I was informal, At the former I wore my suit, I wore my swimmin’ suit. This summer I did swan dives And jackknifes for you all And once when you weren’t looking I did a cannonball, did a cannonball. {Repeat verse 1} 9) ROLL THE OLD CHARIOT 11) SWING DOWN CHARIOT (Traditional) (African American Spiritual/Traditional Chantey) Chorus: We'd be alright if the wind was in our sails, Why don't you swing down, chariot, stop and let me ride? We'd be alright if the wind was in our sails, (2x) We'd be alright if the wind was in our sails, Rock me, Lord, rock me, Lord, calm and easy, An’ we’ll all hang on behind! I’ve got a home on the other side. Chorus: So we’ll roll the old chariot along! We’ll roll the old chariot along! Well, Ezekiel went down in the middle of the field, So we’ll roll the old chariot along! He saw an angel workin’ on a chariot wheel. An’ we’ll all hang on behind! He wasn’t so particular ‘bout the chariot wheel, He just want to see how the chariot feels. We'd be alright if we make it round the horn, Chorus We'd be alright if we make it round the horn, We'd be alright if we make it round the horn, Well, Ezekiel went down and he got on board, An’ we’ll all hang on behind! The chariot wheel a-bumpin’ on down that old road. He wasn’t so particular ‘bout the bumpin’ of the road Chorus He just want to lay down his heavy load. Chorus A night on the town wouldn't do us any harm, A night on the town wouldn't do us any harm, A night on the town wouldn't do us any harm, 12) BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON An’ we’ll all hang on behind! (P. Hayes) Chorus By the waters, the waters of Babylon We lay down and wept for Thee, Zion. Now a swim in the Charles wouldn't do us any harm,Now a We remember Thee, remember Thee, remember Thee swim in the Charles wouldn't do us any harm, Zion. Now a swim in the Charles wouldn't do us any harm, An' we'll all hang on behind! Chorus 10) SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT (W. Willis) Chorus: Swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home (2x) I looked over Jordan and what did I see, Comin’ for to carry me home? A band of angels coming after me, Comin’ for to carry me home. Chorus If you get there before I do, Comin’ for to carry me home, Tell all my friends that I’m comin’ there too, Comin’ for to carry me home. Chorus 13) RIPPLE (J. Garcia/ R. Hunter) 14) UNCLE JOHN’S BAND (J. Garcia/ R. Hunter) If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine Well the first days are the hardest days, don't you worry And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung, any more, Would you hear my voice come through the music? 'Cause when life looks like Easy Street, there is danger at Would you hold it near, as it were your own? your door. Think this through with me, let me know your mind, It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken, Wo, oh, what I want to know, is are you kind? Perhaps they're better left unsung. I don't know, don't really care It's a buck dancer's choice my friend; better take my Let there be songs to fill the air. advice. You know all the rules by now and the fire from the ice. Ripple in still water, Will you come with me? Won't you come with me? When there is no pebble tossed, Wo, oh, what I want to know, will you come with me? Nor wind to blow. Goddamn, well I declare, have you seen the like? Reach out your hand if your cup be empty, Their wall are built of cannonballs, their motto is "Don't If your cup is full may it be again, tread on me". Let it be known there is a fountain, Come hear Uncle John'n Band playing to the tide, That was not made by the hands of man. Come with me, or go alone, he's come to take his children home. There is a road, no simple highway, Between the dawn and the dark of night, It's the same story the crow told me; it's the only one he And if you go, no one may follow, knows.