Take My Ashes To The River Lyrics - Mark Erelli

(Jonathan Kingham & Mark Erelli) 

She was the parson's only daughter 

And a poor sharecropper's dream 

Her voice as sweet as falling water 

From the cool clear mountain stream 

We came to share a love forbidden 

A union cursed by family 

To be forever unforgiven 

When we swore eternity 

We settled hard on twenty acres 

Ploughed the fields and worked the land 

But the fever came to take her 

With its unforgiving hand 

I tried to soothe her shaking body 

But no peace could I provide 

She said I hear the angles singing softly 

I'm bound to cross that Great Divide 

CHORUS 

Take my ashes to the river 

Where the water's cold and deep 

Take my ashes to the river 

Pray the Lord my soul to keep