[Verse 1]
Meet me by the riverside
Later on the day
Gonna watch the hanging of an honest man
Say he ain’t the guilty one
But someone has to pay
They will not be pleased before they see him hanged
[Chorus 1]
As he cries out
Turn and face the crowd as he cries out
No one makes a sound as he cries out
Oh, he hits the ground, he cries out
It’s your spirit now
Find me in the river
Swing me from the tree
So won’t you free the slave in me?
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, oh
[Verse 2]
Leave me when the time is near
Leave me be, please
This is not the way you should remember me
Have you nothing else to say?
Final words, [the truth?]
Forgive them father for they know not what they do
[Chorus 2]
As he cries out
As he can’t be found as he cries out
No one makes a sound as he cries out
Oh, he hits the ground, he cries out
As you’re swinging down
Throw me in the ocean
Pass me in the sea
So won’t you free the slave in me?
[Bridge]
Don’t you know, oh, don’t you know?
Whoa, they comin’ home for you
You can run, run on now
Oh, they comin’ home for you
Until you bleed, oh
Until you bleed, oh
Darkness is coming
Darkness
You should take shelter
You should take shelter
Darkness is coming
Darkness and hell
[Outro]
Is your conscience clear?
Have you seen the brave man hanging from the tree?
Say, who’ll be the first to see?