Hold my hand
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down to the bottom of the river
Hold my hand,
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down, a long way down

If you get sleep or if you get none
The [bad word] s gonna call in the morning, baby
Check the cupboard for your daddy’s gun
Red sun rises like an early warning
The Lord’s [bad word] for your first born son
His hair’s on fire and his heart is burning
Go to the river where the [bad word] Wash him deep where the tides are turning

And if you fall

Hold my hand
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down to the bottom of the river
Hold my hand,
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down, a long way down

The wolves will chase you by the pale moonlight [bad word] and driven by a devil’s hunger
Drive your son like a railroad spike
Into the water, let it pull him under
Don’t you lift him, let him drown alive
The good Lord speaks like a rolling thunder
Let that fever make the water rise
And let the [bad word] dry

And I said

Hold my hand
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down to the bottom of the river
Hold my hand,
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down, a long way down