Down in Mississippi on a winter's day
They laid his little girl in an early grave
Only the good Lord knows the tears he cried
When the angels sang her over to the other side

Sing me out
Lay my burdens down
Sing me out
Take my body to the burying ground
Sing me over Jordan cause I'm glory bound
Oh sweet Lord won't you sing me out

Everyone said she was born of shame
From a rich man's blood bore a poor man's name
But he loved that child like she was his own
The closest thing to heaven he would ever hold

From where he stands he can hear the sound
Of those old gravediggers turning up the ground
It's been thirty years since she left his hands
And he's still waiting on the Promised Land