Carry Me Past That River

[Verse 1]
Sun beat down on my bent-back day
Dust in my mouth
Ain’t got no say
Chains on my hands
Chains in my sleep
Mama’s old song the only thing I keep
[Chorus]
Carry me
Carry me
Past that river wide
Somebody come
Lord
Walkin’ by my side (oh Lord)
Carry me
Carry me
From this hurt and harm
’Til I lay my burden down in your arms
[Verse 2]
They count that cotton
They count that cane
Don’t count my tears
Don’t count my pain
Eyes on the road
But my heart look high
Searchin’ that cloud for a sign in the sky
[Chorus]
Carry me
Carry me
Past that river wide
Somebody come
Lord
Walkin’ by my side (walk with me)
Carry me
Carry me
From this hurt and harm
’Til I lay my burden down in your arms
[Bridge]
Leader: Who gon’ hear this shackle cry?
Group: Savior
Savior
Leader: Who gon’ see these tired eyes?
Group: Savior
Savior (oh Savior)
Leader: Who gon’ break this iron door?
Group: Savior
Savior
Leader: Don’t leave us here no more
Group: Savior
Savior
[Chorus]
Carry me
Carry me
Past that river wide
Somebody come
Lord
Walkin’ by my side (hold my hand)
Carry me
Carry me
From this hurt and harm
’Til I lay my burden down in your arms (down in your arms)
[Chant Outro]
We tired
We tired (mmm)
We waitin’
We waitin’ (oh Lord)
We singin’
We singin’
For a savior
For a savior
For a savior
Come

Raw a cappella field-chant style, mixed-gender call-and-response vocals. Lead voice rough and weary, big stacked group shouts on hooks and last words of lines. Heavy foot-stomp and handclap pulse, voices sway between low hums and sharp cries; final chorus swells into powerful, extended harmonies that fade to a soft unison hum.