River of Zion
River of Zion
Intro
Organ pads, soft rim clicks, guitar skank on the offbeats
Lead:
Morning come with mercy,
Sunlight on my face.
Trouble tried to drown me,
But I floated up on grace.
Choir:
Float on, sister, float on.
Float on, sister, float on.
Lead:
There’s a river down in Zion,
And it’s carrying me home.
Verse 1
I was walking through the valley
With my shoes full of dust,
Had a pocket full of questions
And a heart learning trust.
I heard thunder in the distance,
But the rain became a song.
Every tear that left my body
Made the roots of faith grow strong.
Then a woman at the roadside
Said, “Child, lift up your eyes.
Even when the night is heavy,
Jah still paints the sunrise.”
Pre-Chorus
So I put my burdens down,
By the water, by the sound.
What was broken in my chest
Started beating blessed.
Choir:
Blessed, blessed,
Beating blessed.
Chorus
Take me to the river of Zion,
Where the living waters roll.
Wash me in the light of forgiveness,
Let the joy come fill my soul.
I’ve been low, but I’m rising,
I’ve been lost, but I’m found.
Take me to the river of Zion,
Where love will not let me down.
Choir:
Love won’t let her down.
Love won’t let her down.
Verse 2
I have seen the proud man stumble,
Seen the weak one stand tall.
Seen a table built from nothing
Have enough to feed us all.
I have heard the mothers praying
Over children in the street.
I have watched the choir keep singing
With no shoes upon their feet.
And the bassline kept on moving
Like a heartbeat underground.
Saying, “Daughter, don’t you worry,
Heaven hears your every sound.”
Pre-Chorus 2
So I leave my fear behind,
Trade the sorrow for the shine.
What was heavy in my hands
Turns to praise again.
Choir:
Praise again,
Praise again.
Chorus
Take me to the river of Zion,
Where the living waters roll.
Wash me in the light of forgiveness,
Let the joy come fill my soul.
I’ve been low, but I’m rising,
I’ve been lost, but I’m found.
Take me to the river of Zion,
Where love will not let me down.
Choir:
Love won’t let her down.
Love won’t let her down.
Reggae-Gospel Breakdown
Drums drop lighter, bass stays deep, choir claps on 2 and 4
Lead:
Can I lay my burden down?
Choir:
Lay it down, lay it down.
Lead:
Can I trade my fear for sound?
Choir:
Sing it out, sing it out.
Lead:
Can I dance though the storm still blows?
Choir:
Dance, sister, dance.
Lead:
Can I bloom where the wild wind goes?
Choir:
Bloom, sister, bloom.
Lead:
I’ve got roots by the river,
I’ve got praise in my bones.
When the world gets bitter,
Grace still makes a home.
Bridge
Organ swells, female lead opens into gospel melisma
Hallelujah in the morning,
Hallelujah in the rain.
Every wave that tried to break me
Only washed away my shame.
I am planted, I am singing,
I am covered, I am free.
There is peace beyond my knowing
Rolling steady over me.
Choir:
Rolling steady,
Rolling steady,
Over me.
Final Chorus
Take me to the river of Zion,
Where the living waters roll.
Wash me in the light of forgiveness,
Let the joy come fill my soul.
I’ve been low, but I’m rising,
I’ve been lost, but I’m found.
Take me to the river of Zion,
Where love will not let me down.
Repeat / lift:
Take me to the river,
Take me to the river,
Take me to the river of Zion.
Choir:
River of Zion,
River of Zion.
Lead:
I’m going where the mercy flows,
Where the healing water knows my name.
Outro / Gospel Vamp
Lead:
Peace like water.
Choir:
Water, water.
Lead:
Joy like thunder.
Choir:
Thunder, thunder.
Lead:
Love still rising.
Choir:
Rising, rising.
Lead:
Grace no longer under.
Choir:
Never under.
Lead:
Tell my trouble I am leaving,
Tell my sorrow I am gone.
I hear Zion’s river calling,
And it’s carrying me home.
All:
Take me to the river,
Take me to the river,
Take me to the river of Zion.
Lead:
Carrying me home.
Choir:
Home, home, home.