Carters. Where Moses Stood

Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Oh in that day when the bells don't toll
Crying Holy unto the Lord

Crying Holy unto the Lord
           [Holy unto the Lord]
           [Holy unto the Lord]
Crying Holy unto the Lord
           [Holy unto the Lord]
           [Holy unto the Lord]

Oh, if I could, I surely would
Stand on the rock
(Praise God)
where Moses stood

BREAK

Sinners, run unto the Lord
Sinners, run unto the Lord
Now please don't let this harvest pass
And lose your soul at last

Crying Holy unto the Lord
           [Holy unto the Lord]
           [Holy unto the Lord]
Crying Holy unto the Lord
           [Holy unto the Lord]
           [Holy unto the Lord]

Oh, if I could, I surely would
Stand on the rock
(Praise God)
where Moses stood

SHORT BREAK

Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord
The four and twenty elders bowing all around the altar
Crying Holy unto the Lord

Crying Holy unto the Lord
           [Holy unto the Lord]
           [Holy unto the Lord]
Crying Holy unto the Lord
           [Holy unto the Lord]
           [Holy unto the Lord]

Oh, if I could, I surely would
Stand on the rock
(Praise God)
where Moses stood

OUTRO

Oh, if I could, I surely would
Stand on the rock
(Praise God)
where Moses stood

Sunshine Superman

INTRO

Sunshine came softly through my a-window today
Could've tripped out easy a-but I've a-changed my ways
It'll take time, I know it but in a while
You're gonna be mine, I know it, we'll do it in style

'Cause I've made my mind up you're going to be mine

I'll tell you right now
Any trick in the book now, baby, all that I can find
Everybody's hustlin' just to have a little scene
When I say we'll be cool I think that you know what I mean
We stood on a beach at sunset, do you remember when

I know a beach where, baby, a-it never ends
When you've made your mind up forever to be mine

[Optional:] Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm

I'll pick up your hand and slowly blow your little mind

'Cause I've made my mind up you're going to be mine

I'll tell you right now
Any trick in the book now, baby, that I can find

BREAK

Superman or Green Lantern ain't got a-nothin' on me
I can make like a turtle and dive for your pearls in the sea, yeah
A you-you-you can just sit there a-thinking on your velvet throne
'Bout all the rainbows a-you can a-have for your own

When you've made your mind up forever to be mine

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm

I'll pick up your hand and slowly blow your little mind
When you've made your mind up forever to be mine
I'll pick up your hand
I'll pick up your hand

Rockin' pneumonia. Johnny Rivers

LONG INSTRUMENTAL INTRO
I wanna jump but I'm afraid I'll fall
I wanna holler but the joint's too small
Young man rhythm got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

Want some lovin' babe and that ain't all
I wanna kiss her but she's way too tall
Young man rhythm got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

Wanna squeeze her but I'm way too low
I would be runnin' but my feets too slow
Young man rhythm got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu


LONGISH BREAK
I wanna squeeze her but I'm way too low
I would be runnin' but my feets too slow
Young man rhythm got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

Baby comin' now I'm hurryin' home
I know she leavin' cause I'm takin' too long
Young man rhythm got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

OUTRO
Nice instrumental run with fadeout

Bear Tracks = Ol' Slew Foot

High on the mountain, tell me what you see
Bear tracks, bear tracks looking back at me
Better get your rifle, boy, before it's too late
'Cause a bear's got a little pig and headed thru the gate

He's big around the middle and he's broad across the rump
Running ninety miles an hour, taking thirty feet a jump
Ain't never been caught, he ain't never been treed
Some folks say he look a lot like me

I saved up my mon' and I bought me some bees
And they started making honey way up in the trees
Cut down the tree, but my honey's all gone
Ole Slew-Foot's done made himself at home

He's big around the middle and he's broad across the rump
Running ninety miles an hour, taking thirty feet a jump
Ain't never been caught, he ain't never been treed
Some folks say he look a lot like me

Winter's coming on and it's twenty below
And the river's froze over, so where can he go?
We'll chase him up the gulley then we'll run him in the well
And shoot him in the bottom just to listen to him yell

He's big around the middle and he's broad across the rump
Running ninety miles an hour, taking thirty feet a jump
Ain't never been caught, he ain't never been treed
Some folks say he look a lot like me

Hills of Roane County

In the beautiful hills, way back in Roane County
There's where I roamed for many long years
There's where my heart's been tending most ever
That's where the first step of misfortune I made

I was thirty years old when I courted and married
Amanda Gilbraith I then called my wife
Her brother stabbed me for some unknown reason
Just three months later I'd taken Tom's life

For twenty-five years this whole world I rambled
I went to old England to France and to Spain
But I thought of my home way back in Roane County
I boarded a steamer and come back again

I was captured and tried in the village of Kingston
Not a man in that county would speak one kind word
When the jury came in with the verdict next morning
A lifetime in prison was the words that I heard

BREAK
When the train pulled out poor mother stood weepin'
And sister she sat alone with a sigh
And the last words I heard was Willie God bless you
Was Willie God bless you, God bless you, good bye

No matter what happens to me in Roane County
No matter how long my sentence may be
I'll love my old home way back in Roane County
It's way back down in old East Tennessee

Sweet Martha was grave but Corey was better
There's better and worse, although you can see
Boys when you write home from the prison in Nashville
Place one of my songs in your letter for me

---

ORIGINAL LYRICS?
The following are as close to the original lyrics as researchers can get:

In the beautiful hills, in the midst of Roane County,
There's where I have roamed, for many long years;
There's where my poor heart's been tending most ever,
There's where my first steps of misfortune I made.

I was thirty years old when I courted and married,
Amanda Galbreath was then called my wife.
Her brother stabbed me for some unknown reason;
Just three months later, I'd taken Tom's life.

For twenty years this old world I rambled;
I went to old England, old France, and old Spain.
I thought of my home way back in Roane County;
I boarded a steamer and came back again.

I was captured and tried in the village of Kingston.
Not a man in that county would speak a kind word.
When the jury came in with the verdict next morning,
a lifetime of prison were the words that I heard.

The train it pulled out; poor Mother stood weeping.
And sister, she sat all alone with a sigh.
The last words I heard were: "Willie, God bless you;
Willie, God bless you, God bless you; goodbye."

The train left the shed at about eleven thirty;
The chains they did rattle, the handcuffs were tight
When Sonny Gibson took the throttle
The engine one-thirty was soon out of sight.

In the scorching hot sun I've been toiling;
Just working and worrying my poor life away.
You can measure my grave on the banks of old Cumberland
After I've finished the rest of my days.

No matter what happened to me in Roane County;
No matter how long my sentence may be,
I love my old home way back in Roane County,
Way back in the hills of East Tennessee."

OTHER LYRICS
In the beautiful hills, way back in Roane County
There's where I roamed for many long years
There's where my heart's been tending most ever
That's where the first step of misfortune I made

I was about thirty years when I courted and married
Amanda Gilbraith I then called my wife
But her brother stabbed me for some unknown reason
Just three months later I'd taken Tom's life

For twenty-five years this whole world I rambled
I went to old England, to France and to Spain
But I thought of my home way back in Roane County
I boarded a steamer and came back again

I was captured and tried in the village of Kingston
Not a man in the county would speak one kind word
When the jury came in with the verdict next morning
A lifetime in prison was the words that I heard

When the train pulled out poor mother stood weeping
And sister she sat alone with a sigh
And the last words I heard was "Willie God bless you"
Was "Willie God bless you, God bless you, goodbye"

The train left the shed at about eleven-thirty
The chains they did rattle, the handcuffs were tight
When Sonny Gibson took the throttle
The engine one-thirty was soon out of sight

In the scorching hot sun I've been toiling
Just working and worrying my poor life away
You can measure my grave on the banks of old Cumberland
After I've finished the rest of my days

No matter what happens to me in Roane County
No matter how long my sentence may be
I'll love my old home way back in Roane County
It's way back down in old East Tennessee

Sweet Martha was grave but Corey was better
There's better and worse, although you can see
Boys, when you write home from the prison in Nashville
Place one of my songs in your letter for me.

---

These lyrics, which have a number of variants, are widely attributed to Willis Maberry and have been performed by the Stanley Brothers and the Blue Sky Boys, among others.

---

---

Grandpa Jones has a fine voice, excellent delivery. But I dislike the sing-songy quality. Ralph Stanley's version, in particular, subsumes what I call the "sine wave" sound.

See this link for a historical account of the song by Willis Maberry, convicted of killing his brother in law.

Tonight the bottle let me down. Haggard

---

---

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

VERSE1
Each night I leave the bar room when it's over
Not feeling any pain at closing time
But tonight your memory found me much too sober
Couldn't drink enough to keep you off my mind

CHORUS 1
Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down

SHORT BREAK

V2
I've always had a bottle I could turn to
And lately I've been turnin' every day
But the wine don't take effect the way it used to
And I'm hurtin' in an old familiar way

C2
Tonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let me down

TAG
Tonight the bottle let me down

Hank. I can't help it

3-line verse 1
Today I passed you on the street
And my heart fell at your feet
REFRAIN:
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you

3-line verse 2
Somebody else stood by your side
And he looked so satisfied
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you

4-line verse 1
A picture from the past came slowly stealin'
As I brushed your arm and walked so close to you
Then suddenly I got that old time feelin'
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you

BREAK

4-line verse 2
It's hard to know another's lips will kiss you
And hold you just the way I used to do
Oh, heaven only knows how much I miss you
I can't help it if I'm still in love with you

Get in line brother

---

Backwoods Bluegrass version of lyrics

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

VERSE 1
Oh listen to me sinners, don't you want to know?
For someday he's coming back again, you know
If that wrong ain't rightened you'll be lost in sin
(Get in line, Brother) he will take you in

CHORUS 1
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

BREAK 1

V2
Now let me tell you brother just how I feel
Then I'm sure you'd know the love of God is real
Then you'll be praying while I sing this song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

C2
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin' this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

BREAK 2

V3
Now listen to me Satan I have rightened that wrong
Got a one-way ticket and I'm going home
I've got no worries as I sing this song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

C3
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

BREAK 3

C4 and OUTRO
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

+++++

Flatt and Scruggs version of lyrics

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

VERSE 1
Oh listen to me sinners, don't you want to know?
For someday he's coming back again, you know
If that wrong ain't rightened you'll be lost in sin
(Get in line, Brother) he will take you in

CHORUS 1
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line Brother) if you wanna go home

BREAK 1

V2
Oh listen to me Satan I have rightened that wrong
Got a one-way ticket and I'm going home
I've got no worries as I sing this song
(Get in line Brother) if you wanna go home

C2
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

BREAK 2

V3
If I could tell you brother just how I feel
Then I'm sure you'd know the love of God is real
Then you'll be praying while I sing this song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

C3
Get in line, Brother, if you wanna go home
Get on your knees and righten that wrong
Then you'll be singin this old-time song
(Get in line, Brother) if you wanna go home

INSTRUMENTAL TAG

The Boys of Barr na Sraide. Danu

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County Kerry's Cahersiveen, on the Iveragh Peninsula, rises from the River Ferta up the slopes of Beenatee, a hill about the height of New York's Empire State Building. The hill overlooks the Atlantic from a distance of about 10 miles.

---

[Danu's slightly modified lyrics, as slightly edited by YT.]

Oh the town it climbs the mountain and looks down on the sea,
In sleeping time or waking ‘tis there I long to be,
To walk again those kindly streets, the place my life began,
And the boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren.

With cudgels stout we roamed about to hunt the droleen [dreoilín].
We searched for birds in every furze from Litir [Letter] to Dooneen.
We danced for joy beneath the sky; life held no print or plan
For the boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren.

And when the hills were bleeding and the rifles they were aflame
To the rebel homes of Kerry the Saxon stranger came
But the ones who fought the Auxies and who beat the Black and Tan
Were the boys in Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren.

BRIDGE
So here’s a health to them tonight, those lads who laughed with me
By the groves of Caragh [Cara] River or the slopes of Beenatee
John Dawley and Batt Andy and the Sheehans Con and Dan
Were the boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren.

But now they toil on foreign soil and they have gone their way
Deep in the heart of London or over in Broadway
When [And] I am left to sing their deeds and to praise them while I can,
to the boys [those boys] of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren

And when the wheel of life runs down and peace comes over me
Oh lay me down in that old town between the hills and sea
I’ll take my sleep in those green fields the place my life began
And the boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren.

OUTRO

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"Barr na Sráide" (Top Street or High Street) runs horizontally along Beenatee's slope through Cahersiveen, after which the route's name changes to "Old Road." The song pictures an ideal path for fun-loving boys. The song by the poet Sigerson Clifford relates the local St. Stephen's Day tradition of hunting wrens (dreoilíns) to the Irish War of Independence. The boys in the poem refer to an extended group of rural youths living in Kerry and Limerick counties, who a few years later fought to drive the British from Ireland.

---

Correct Lyrics of "The Boys of Barr na Sráide"
by Sigerson Clifford

Oh the town it climbs the mountain and looks out upon the sea
And sleeping time or waking, ‘tis there I long to be
To walk again that kindly street, the place where life began
And the Boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the Wran.

With cudgels stout we roamed about to hunt the Droilín
We searched for birds in every furze from Letter to Dooneen
We sang for joy beneath the sky, life held no print or plan
And we Boys of Barr na Sráide, a-hunting for the Wran.

And when the hills were bleeding and the rifles were aflame
To the Rebel homes of Kerry, the Saxon stranger came
But the men who dared the Auxies and who beat the Black and Tan
Were the Boys of Barr na Sráide, a-hunting for the Wran.

And here’s a toast to them tonight, the lads who laughed with me
By the Groves of Carhan River or the slopes of Beenatee
John Dawley and Batt Andy, and the Sheehans Con and Dan
And the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the Wran.

And now they toil on foreign soil, where they have gone their way
Deep in the heart of London town or over in Broadway
And I am left to sing their deeds and praise them while I can
Those Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the Wran.

And when the wheel of life runs down and peace comes over me
O lay me down in that old town between the hills and sea
I’ll take my sleep in those green fields the place my life began
Where the Boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the Wran.

---

Local dialect evidently renders Caragh as Caran.

Doc Watson: Tom Dooley

Each verse is followed by a short instrumental refrain, not all of which are identical.

[Verse 1 and chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die
You left her by the roadside where you begged to be excused
You left her by the roadside, then you hid her clothes and shoes

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Verse 2]
You took her on the hillside for to make her your wife
You took her on the hillside and there, you took her life
You dug the grave four feet long and you dug it three feet deep
You rolled the cold clay over her and tromped it with your feet

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Verse 3]
Trouble, it's trouble a-rollin' through my breast
As long as I'm a-livin', boys, they ain't a-gonna let me rest
I know they're gonna hang me, tomorrow I'll be dead
Though I never even harmed a hair on poor little Laurie's head

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

Extra beat on instrumental refrain

[Verse 4]
In this world and one more, then reckon where I'll be
If it wasn't for Sheriff Grayson, I'd be in Tennessee
You can take down my old violin and play it all you please
For at this time tomorrow, boys, it'll be no use to me

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Verse 5 and chorus]
At this time tomorrow, where do you reckon I'll be?
Away down yonder in the holler, hangin' on a white oak tree
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Instrumental refrain/outro]

The train that carried my girl from town

Doc Watson version

V1
There goes the train that carried my girl from town
If I knowed her number, Lord, I'd flag her down
Wish to the Lord that the train would wreck
Kill that engineer and break the fireman's neck

C
Hey, the train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

V2
Where was you when the train left town?
I's standin' on the corner with my head hung down
If I had my gun I'd let the hammer down
Lord, I'd shoot that rounder that took my girl from town

C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

V3
Rations on the table and the coffee's getting cold
And some dirty rounder took my jelly roll
Hello, Central, give me six-o-nine
I want to talk to that woman of mine

C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

V4
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Can you show me that woman that a man can trust
There goes my girl, somebody bring her back
'Cause she got her hand in my money sack

C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

---

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Burnett Sisters version

V1
Where was you when the train left town?
I's standin' on the corner with my head hung down
If I had my gun I'd let the hammer down
Lord, I'd shoot that rounder that took my girl from town

C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

V2
There goes the train that carried my girl from town
If I knowed her number, Lord, I'd flag her down
Wish to the Lord that the train would wreck
Kill that engineer and break the fireman's neck

C
Hey, the train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

V3
Rations on the table and the coffee's getting cold
And some dirty rounder took my jelly roll
Hello, Central, give me six-o-nine
I want to talk to that woman of mine

C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

V4
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Can you show me that woman that a man can trust
There goes my girl, somebody bring her back
'Cause she got her hand in my money sack

C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

Instrumental outro and chorus tag

C
Hey, that train that carried my girl from town
Hey, hey, hey, hey

Waylon. Amanda

[Verse 1]
I've held it all inward, God knows I've tried
But it's an awful awakenin' in a country boy's life
To look in the mirror in total surprise
At the hair on my shoulders and the age in my eyes

[Chorus]
Amanda, light of my life
Fate should have made you a gentleman's wife
Amanda, light of my life
Fate should have made you a gentleman's wife

Short guitar bridge

[Verse 2]
It's a measure of people who don't understand
The pleasures of life in a hillbilly band
I got my first guitar when I was fourteen
Now I'm over thirty, still wearing jeans

[Chorus]
Amanda, light of my life
Fate should have made you a gentleman's wife
Amanda, light of my life
Fate should have made you a gentleman's wife

Instrumental outro

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Songwriter: Don Williams

Lost Highway. Hank Williams

I'm a rollin' stone, all alone and lost
For a life of sin, I have paid the cost
When I pass by, all the people say
There goes another boy, down the lost highway

Just a deck of cards, and a jug of wine
And a woman's lies makes a life like mine
For the day we met, I went astray
I started rolling down that lost highway

BREAK
I was just a lad, nearly 22
Neither good nor bad, just a kid like you
And now I'm lost, too late to pray
Lord, I take a cost, on the lost highway

Now boys don't start your ramblin' round
On this road of sin, or you're sorrow-bound
Take my advice or you'll curse the day
You started rollin' down that lost highway

Robbins, Cash, Petersens. Big Iron

[Verse 1]
To the town of Agua Fria
Rode a stranger one fine day
Hardly spoke to folks around him
Didn't have too much to say
No one dared to ask his business
No one dared to make a slip
The stranger there among them
Had a big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

[Verse 2]
It was early in the morning
When he rode into the town
He came riding from the south side
Slowly looking all around
"He's an outlaw loose and running"
Came the whisper from each lip
"And he's here to do some business
With the big iron on his hip"
Big iron on his hip

[Verse 3]
In this town there lived an outlaw
By the name of Texas Red
Many men had tried to take him
And that many men were dead
He was vicious and a killer
Though a youth of twenty-four
And the notches on his pistol
Numbered one and nineteen more
One and nineteen more

[Verse 4]
Now the stranger started talking
Made it plain to folks around
Was an Arizona Ranger
Wouldn't be too long in town
He came here to take an outlaw
Back alive, or maybe dead
And he said it didn't matter
He was after Texas Red
After Texas Red

[Verse 5]
Wasn't long before the story
Was relayed to Texas Red
But the outlaw didn't worry
Men that tried before were dead
Twenty men had tried to take him
Twenty men had made a slip
Twenty-one would be the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

[Verse 6]
The morning passed so quickly
It was time for them to meet
It was twenty past eleven
When they walked out in the street
Folks were watching from the windows
Everybody held their breath
They knew this handsome Ranger
Was about to meet his death
'Bout to meet his death

[Verse 7]
There was forty feet between them
When they stopped to make their play
And the swiftness of the Ranger
Is still talked about today
Texas Red had not cleared leather
'Fore a bullet fairly ripped
And the Ranger's aim was deadly
With the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

[Verse 8]
It was over in a moment
And the folks had gathered round
There before them lay the body
Of the outlaw on the ground
Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

[Outro]
Big iron, big iron
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

There's a higher power. Louvin Bros.

When burdens seem to overcome there's a higher power
Who's faithful and refuses none there's a higher power
Then why ask men to help you through there's a higher power
They're helpless pilgrims just like you there's a higher power

Let's sing it shout it walk it talk it there's a higher power
Lay down your soul cause Jesus bought it there's a higher power
Amen amen there's a higher power amen amen there's a higher power

Bridge I
Go tell them people lost in sin there's a higher power
They need not fear the works of men there's a higher power
Believe in him who rests on high there's a higher power
Unless they do they'll surely die there's a higher power

Let's sing it shout it walk it talk it there's a higher power
Lay down your soul cause Jesus bought it there's a higher power
Amen amen there's a higher power amen amen there's a higher power

Bridge II
Those men have built these mighty guns there's a higher power
They've built these automobiles that run there's a higher power
But brothers and sisters mark this down there's a higher power
They can't build you no heavenly crown there's a higher power

Let's sing it shout it walk it talk it there's a higher power
Lay down your soul cause Jesus bought it there's a higher power
Amen amen there's a higher power amen amen there's a higher power

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Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Charles Louvin / Ira Louvin There’s a Higher Power lyrics © Sony/atv Acuff Rose Music