I feel the irons on my wrist
And lament, it's come to this
When they hang me from the gallows tree
"Such as life," you'll hear me hiss
I'm not the reddest handed bandit here
But I'm the one who'll take the fall
This smoking gun's been smothered
By the long arm of the law
The Chaplin says, "The end is started
And your judgment has begun
Prayers can lead to God's forgiveness
For all the foolish things you've done"
"You've got tonight to find
Some peace of mind before you leave this world"
And I hope and pray
That I may never get what I deserve
Take me down to the river
Preacher, take me by the hand
Take me down to the river
Mend the soul of a broken man
Drown me in forgiveness
Wash these bloody hands of mine
Take me down to one last river
Lord, let me testify
I believe in God's benevolence
And I have seen with my own eyes
In the river just outside the gate
Sunday sinners get baptized
And I'll pray for my redemption
But I'm quite sure that he won't hear
I've never had that watered cross
Trickle in my ear
The chaplain's face it grew sadder
He said, "You've not been christened, son?"
"No," I said and I hung my head
"Is there nothing to be done?"
"If I could get down to that river
Can't you see how cleansed I'd be?
The latest lamb in God's hands
And my soul would be set free"
Take me down to the river
Preacher, take me by the hand
Take me down to the river
Mend the soul of a broken man
Drown me in forgiveness
Wash these bloody hands of mine
Take me down to one last river
Lord, let me testify
They take me to the river banks
Two guards and the chaplain
The moonlight shines on the holy tides
My prayers have been answered
I take my sodden walk to Jesus
All piety and grace
The guards release my shackles
But they cannot read my face
The deepest breath that I can take
As I plunge under the water
The chaplain had the kindest ways
But he could have been a whole lot smarter
Two kicks and I'm traveling
Beneath the muddy waters gleam
And by the time I take a second breath
I'm a hundred yards downstream
Take me down to the river
Preacher, take me by the hand
Take me down to the river
Mend the soul of a broken man
Drown me in forgiveness
Wash these bloody hands of mine
Take me down to one last river
Lord, let me testify