Cotton Fields And Faith
PICKING COTTON FOR THE FARMER
FEELING DIRTY SAD AND LOW
BLISTERING SUN HIGH IN THE HEAVEN
CANNOT LET MY FEELINGS SHOW
DRAG THE COTTON SACK BEHIND ME
FEELS SO HEAVY ON MY BACK
I DREAM OF BETTER DAYS AND FREEDOM
AS I PICK AND FILL THE SACK
MY SWOLLEN HANDS ARE CRACKED AND BLEEDING
FROM THE SHARPNESS OF THE BOLES
BLOOD STAINS WHITE COTTON AS I PICK IT
WITH EACH HANDFUL THAT I HOLD
FROM DAWN TO DUSK OUT HERE WE LABOR
UNTIL TOO DARK FOR ME TO SEE
THE FARMER WAITS UP AT THE TRAILER
TO WEIGH MY COTTON SACK FOR ME
AS I LEAVE FIELD AND SACK BEHIND ME
SLOWLY NOW I WALK ALONE
TO A SAD AND SHABBY DWELLING
THE FARMERS SHACK THAT WE CALL HOME
NOT TO A BED OR CLEAN WHITE LINEN
FRAYED DIRTY QUILTS LAY ON THE FLOOR
AND A MEAGER MEAL TO SHARE WITH
THE LITTLE SISTER I ADORE
MY SISTERS' COWERING IN THE CORNER
AS I WALK INSIDE THE DOOR
HORROR ONCE AGAIN ASSAULTS ME
MAMA'S BLEEDING, DADDY ROARS
WHISKY BREATH AND HEAVY FOOTFALLS
MAKE ME TURN ABOUT TO SEE
THE FACE OF TERROR THAT'S MY FATHER
SCREAMING ANGRY WORDS AT ME
WHEN AT LAST THE WHISKEY TAKES HIM
TO THE SLEEP FOR WHICH WE PRAY
HOLDING ON TO ONE ANOTHER
WE TWO SISTERS KNEEL TO PRAY
WHISPERING QUITELY IN THE DARKNESS
TO THE LORD ABOVE WE SAY
PLEASE GOD GIVE US STRENGTH AND COURAGE
JUST TO FACE ANOTHER DAY
GOD GAVE US STRENGTH TO FACE EACH PERIL
WITH HIS LOVE HE LIT OUR DAY
WE COULD NOT HAVE FACED THE HORROR
WITHOUT HIS LIGHT TO GUIDE OUR WAY
WE KNEW HE'D FREE US FROM OUR PRISON
HE ALWAYS LIGHTS OUR DARKEST ROADS
GOD KEPT US SAFE AND GAVE US COURAGE
JESUS CARRIED OUR HEAVY LOADS.
SO THE COTTON SACK THOUGH HEAVY
AND THE TERROR OF EACH NIGHT
DID NOT EVER BREAK OUR SPIRIT
WE KEPT JESUS IN OUR SIGHT
