Meet me by the riverside
Later in the day
Gonna watch the hanging of an honest man
They say he ain't the guilty one
But someone has to pay
They will not be pleased before they see him hang
As he cries out
Turn and face the crowd
As he cries out
No one makes a sound
As he cries out
Before he hits the ground
He cries out
Where's your spirit now?
Drown me in the river
String me from the tree
Won't you free the slave in me?
Oh, oh
Leave me when the time is near
Leave me be in peace
This is not the way you should remember me
Have you nothing else to say?
Final words of truth
Forgive them, father
For they know not what they do
As he cries out
Mercy can't be found
As he cries out
No one makes a sound
As he cries out
Before he hits the ground
He cries out
Where is your savior now?
Throw me in the ocean
Cast me in the sea
Won't you free the slave in me?
Don't you know, don't you know?
Whoa, they're gonna come for you
You can run, run on out
Oh, they're gonna come for you
Until you bleed, oh
Until you bleed, oh
Dark days are coming
Dark days so you should take shelter
You should take shelter
Dark days are coming
Dark days are here
Is your conscience clear?
Have you seen the brave man
Hanging from a tree?
Say, who will be the first to see?