Down 'pon the riverside
where the gentle rhythms flow
John's dunkin' 'em for the baptisms
and all the folks dressed in whites
is smiling and hawing
'cos John, he bein' old school
puts them in real good
just like Father Cleetus
used to do with bible in one hand
and other hand straight up in the air
a lightning rod for God
be that man
for a soul caint resist
a little saving
in these parts
as the rains came down
to wash the sinners
and me and Leroy
made for shelter
But John he got his eye in
and calls unto me
for never he seen a soul
more'n need of releasin'
from the evils that a man do
than this 'un
And little Leroy's laughin'
from the bank
but I'm waist in
and John opens the good book
and says
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. Psalm 1:1
Was you mocking me from the banks son?
You and that good for nuttin' sinner Leroy
Take a gulp of the good water son
And down I go
heavin' and howling
in the mighty hands of John
while on the bank
the sisters are singing
Awake my soul
and the thunder cracked
and day became night
and just as sure
the evil done left me
and a soul
that had withered
to a stick
was replenished
so surely
and John's mighty hands
done lift me from the river
and unto me he says
All flesh will see the salvation of God Luke 3:6