History Book-Dry the River

[00:16.70]Like faithful oxen through the chalk, [00:21.93]With dragging tails of history walk. [00:25.72]We soon confuse the compass and the cross. [00:33.33]Carefully and cursively [00:37.34]we fill our traveling diaries with loss. [00:43.41] [00:50.18]Beneath an angry Bible flood, [00:55.06]Did you and I first learn to love. [00:59.44]In my father's car we came to know. [01:06.36]And shivered in our painted clothes [01:10.75]and paired like every animal below. [01:15.37] [01:23.30]As heavy as a history book can be, [01:27.12]I will carry it with me, oh Lord. [01:38.52]And maybe when the bitterness has gone, [01:42.38]There'll be sweetness on our tongues once more. [01:49.06] [01:54.62]Barefoot in a rowing boat, [01:58.49]You lose your shoes and freeze your toes. [02:02.78]And say I wear my sorrow like a crown. [02:09.69]And throw your arms around my head, [02:13.85]and see it there in gold and red and brown. [02:19.68] [02:24.37]As heavy as a history book can be, [02:28.24]I will carry it with me, oh Lord. [02:39.51]And maybe when the bitterness has gone, [02:43.22]There'll be sweetness on our tongues once more. [02:50.05] [02:54.93]We'll soon forget our parents' names, [03:02.29]Like dogs will drive the wolves away. [03:09.77]And weep with fingertips opposed, [03:15.00]Like a church where nobody congregates. [03:19.34] [03:25.17]But sweetness sings in the pasture, [03:28.76]We throw ourselves on the mercy of the earth. [03:32.66]If sand and salt have the answer, [03:36.09]Then the act itself will be louder than the word. [03:40.01]And I'll be on your side [03:52.65] [03:53.83]But sweetness sings in the pasture, [03:57.90]We throw ourselves on the mercy of the earth. [04:01.76]If sand and salt have the answer, [04:05.06]Then the act itself will be louder than the word. [04:08.63]And I'll be on your side [04:22.22]