The River

I prayed to the LORD by the rising sun
said I really really lost my way
I prayed at dawn to a Hindu sky
but Jesus didn’t have much to say

go to the river, my son
go to the river, my son
go down to the river

I prayed to the LORD by the rising moon
said I really really lost my way
I prayed into the silence on a moonlit night
but God’s always dead on Holy Saturday

go to the river, my son
go to the river, my son
go down to the river

I prayed to the LORD on a misty mountain
said I really really lost my way
I prayed through the fog on a cloudy day
but the silence wouldn’t go away

go to the river, my son
go to the river, my son
go down to the river

I prayed to the LORD by the river
said I really really lost my way
I prayed to my Father in Heaven
but He didn’t have much to say

go down by the river

I prayed to my Father in Heaven one day
but Mother on Earth showed me the way
I prayed to my Father in Heaven last May
but here’s what momma say

go to the river, my son
go to the river, my son
go down to the river

I watched a young heron one day
tryin’ to find his way
I watched a young heron last May
learnin’ bout the lies senses convey

go to the river, my son

I watched a heron by the river one day
catchin’ his first doré
I learned from a heron last May
who didn’t have much to say

go to the river, my son

I listened to The River one day
and now I found my way
I listened to my momma last May
and here is what she say

go to the river, my son
go to the river, my son
go down to the river

—John Faithful Hamer, From Here: A Love Letter to Montréal (2017)