Secret South

Lovely lovely carol sue
I see the heel of the father
Crush the head of the serpent for you
An' that beast who found
His way up to your room
You know the one the one
Who's colors are never true
Yeah you do

Yet all the while 'neath
His banner you did stand
'neath the shadow of his wing
Do you remember
Sorrow stands near an' close at hand
Sorrow stands an' in sorrow's hand
The burning ember

He'll come a cinder
Fire call the kettle black
The dark can only hinder it
It will not hold you back
Nor tear you asunder

And the good shepherd
Lo he left all the others
An' went to look for you
Yes an' he did find thee
An' with bruised hands
He did unbind thee
Brought you out
Into the light of day

He'll come a cinder
Fire call the kettle black
The dark can only hinder it
It will not hold you back
Nor tear you asunder

O come and stand with me mother
As we wait for the master's voice
An' head that way together

He'll come a cinder
Fire call the kettle black
The dark can only hinder it
It will not hold you back
Nor tear you asunder

Is anything as lovely to me
As the truth in love
I'll take it over freedom any day
It brings me ever an' this time to my knees
An' on my knees i run away

Yes i know your sticks and stones they
They will easily break these bones an'
An' all my words come back to haunt me
I will put my strength into
The things left standing
I am hoarse with wild eyes
No debts outstanding

My hands are yours my brother
You can take my coat as well
My eyes are yours sister
And my heart, and my heart
In which he dwells

Heard the voice of my master callin' me
From deep in the hollow
Said that i must follow him there yeah
Is any place darker for me
With all them wolves about
Well it's a poor mouth that i wear

My hands are yours my brother
You can take my coat as well
My eyes are yours sister
And my heart, and my heart
In which he dwells

Livin' from hand to poor mouth
You an' me an' my secret south

Self sent a twister
A tearin' after me
Gonna bust my house to splinters yes
An' take all that's dear to me

You say you saw it comin' yeah
But still you did not flee
I was too weak i couldn't move
Held by growth of a tree

An' yes i fell upon that rock
I did not die jus' badly broken
An' in time my healin' it will come yeah
By the words that he has spoken
I fell upon that rock

Who is it now that loves you
Straight in the front door
An' crooked out the back yeah
What is it now you're a slave to
On your knees out in your shack

I fell upon that rock yeah
He's beyond the shadow
Of your doubt an' mine
He's no man's opinion
He is truth divine

Self sent a twister
A tearin' after me
Done bust my house to splinters yeah
An' took all that's dear to me

Who is it now that loves you
Straight in the front door
An' crooked out the back yeah
What is it now that you pray to
As your world begins to crack

I fell upon that rock yeah
He's beyond the shadow
Of your doubt an' mine
He's no man's opinion
He is truth divine

An' yes i fell upon that rock
I did not die jus' badly broken
An' in time my healin' came yeah
By the words that he had spoken

Well hey i been down that a way
With a dream on my arm
Yet me an' my love we could not stay
We heard voices of children
An' by little hands were led astray

All the boughs bend for us
All the earth awaits thee
All the stones they will cry out
An' ev'ry tongue confess thee

Oh my dream come an' take me quickly
'fore the struggle take me
Yeah lay me down any way you choose
An' let the voices of our children wake me

The boughs they all will bend for us
An' all the earth awaits thee
All the stones they will cry out
Yes an' ev'ry tongue confess thee

An' though the word yes
It falls on deaf ears
It is spoken jus' the same
The word is stands
Look straight at ev'ry man
From kings down to the lay

Well i told it fast an' glad
The color of a sloe drink
Or so they say
So they say by the light of day
Hidden 'neath their wings
Of black, brown an' grey


The boughs they all will bend for us
An' all the earth awaits thee
All the stones they will cry out
An' ev'ry tongue confess thee

An' though the word yes
It falls on deaf ears
It is spoken jus' the same
The word is stands
Look straight at ev'ry man
From kings down to the lay

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
Travelin' through a world of woe
Ain't no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which i go

I'm goin' there to see my father
Said he'd meet me when i come
I'm only goin' over jordan
I'm only goin' over home

I know dark clouds gonna gather 'round me
I know my way it'll be rough and steep
Yet beautiful fields lie just before me
Where god's redeemed did vigils keep

I'm goin' there to see my loved ones
Gone before me one by one
I'm only goin' over jordan
I'm only goin' over home

I'll soon be free from earthly trials
This body rests in the orchard's yard
I'll drop this cross of self-denial
And go singing home to god

I'm goin' there to see my savior
To dwell with him no more to roam
I'm only goin' over jordan
I'm only goin' over home
I'm only goin' over home

Little johanna girl of my prairie
Help me fill this house with living words
Further up an' further in
Let 'em fly from our lips
Just like birds
Just like birds

All that dark woods from pakistan
The glory the glory lodged inside
Strive to enter the narrow gate child
To the fountain that flows deep an' wide

He will never leave you
My much afraid
He waits patient
In our prayers unprayed

Now stay close to me
In an' amongst the trees
I'll carry your shoes child
You run an' play beneath the eaves

Our faith will come by the hearin'
A whisper in the leaves
Listen johanna hear his voice
In the drone of the bees

He will never leave you
My much afraid
He waits patient
In our prayers unprayed