[Hand-clapping. Foot-stomping. A joyful piano. Brother Sammartino's voice — bright, inviting, unhinged:]
"Brothers and sisters. Severed and saved. Down by the riverside. The water is red. The water is warm. The water is waiting."
[The choir claps. The piano swings.]
"Down by the riverside. Where the bodies float. Where the faces smile. Where the voices sing. Let us go. Let us go. Let us go down."
[The choir erupts. The hymn begins.]
[VERSE 1 — SUNG, GOSPEL, JOYFUL]
Down by the riverside. Down by the blood.
Down where the bodies float. Down where the mud
Is red and warm. Is red and deep.
Down where the severed faces sleep.
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield.
Down by the riverside. Down by the field
Of bones and blood and broken things.
Down where the severed choir sings.
[CHORUS — FULL CHOIR, GOSPEL, TRIUMPHANT]
Down by the riverside! Down by the flood!
Down where the bodies float! Down where the blood
Is warm and red! Is warm and deep!
Down where the severed faces sleep!
Down by the riverside! Sing it loud!
Down where the bodies join the crowd!
Down by the water! Down by the grace!
Down by the river. Down by the face.
[VERSE 2 — SUNG, BUILDING]
I ain't gonna fight no more.
Down by the riverside. Down by the store
Of faces and names and bones and teeth.
Down by the river. Down beneath.
The water is warm. The water is red.
The water is the only thing that's in my head.
I lay my axe down. I lay my blade.
Down by the river. Down where the promise is made.
[BRIDGE — SPOKEN OVER SOFT PIANO]
[Brother Sammartino's voice, quiet, reverent:]
"You ever been to the river? Ever felt the water take you? The bodies floating. The faces smiling. The voices singing. That's peace. That's the blood gospel. That's home."
[The choir returns. Joyful. Swelling.]
[VERSE 3 — SUNG, FULL CHOIR, TRIUMPHANT]
Down by the riverside. Down by the deep.
Down where the severed never sleep.
They float. They sing. They smile. They wait.
Down by the riverside. Down by the gate.
The gate is open. The gate is wide.
Down by the riverside. Down where we hide.
No more running. No more fear.
Down by the riverside. The river is here.
[FINAL CHORUS — FULL CHOIR, FULL ORCHESTRA, TRIUMPHANT, TERRIFYING]
Down by the riverside! Down by the flood!
Down where the bodies float! Down where the blood
Is warm and red! Is warm and deep!
Down where the severed faces sleep!
Down by the riverside! Sing it loud!
Down where the bodies join the crowd!
Down by the water! Down by the grace!
Down by the river. Down by the face.
Down by the riverside! The river is home!
Down where the severed never roam!
Down by the water! Down by the light!
Down by the riverside. Down for the night.
[OUTRO]
[The piano fades to a single, joyful chord. Brother Sammartino's voice, warm, satisfied, eternal:]
"That was 'Down by the Riverside.' Where the bodies float. Where the faces smile. Where the voices sing. The river is waiting. The river is warm. The river is home."
AsheTheHyena
