Over by the river you could hear him pray,
Moanin' for the sinners who had lost their way.
He splashed that water with a two-by-four
And took those sinners to the holy door.
He walked with them and talked with them
and gave them every reason that he could think
to walk with him.
Born in a town in Michigan
He headed down the road where he began
Watchin' all the people movin' down the road
Goin' to California like ol' Tom Joad.
He walked with them and talked with them
and thought of every reason that he could think
to walk with him.
He lifted his hands and the crowd stood still,
A preacher had a window to God's good will,
Times were hard with the food run out
But the preacher could fill a soul to shout.
He walked with them and talked with them
and prayed for every reason that he could think
to walk with him.
Life got better eventually,
People filled the churches so God could see
That the preacher's words, like the words of old,
Had guilded lives with gold untold.
He walked with them and talked with them
and felt for every reason that he could think
to walk with him.
(Spoken) Over by the river you can hear him pray.
© 2003 Thomas A. Ekkens
Music performed by Paloma (Nancy Colman, Tom Ekkens, Richard Nathan, Alex Reisman, Joanne Shwed, and Otte Tobiassen)