1. Can't see nothin' in front of me, can't see nothin' coming up behind.

I make my way through this darkness, I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me.

Lost track of how far I've gone, how far I've gone, how high I've climbed.

On my back's a sixty pound stone, on my shoulder a half mile of line.

Come on up for the rising, come on up, lay your hands in mine !

Come on up for the rising, come on up for the rising tonight !

2. Left the house this morning, bells ringing filled the air.

I was wearin' the cross of my calling, on wheels of fire I come rollin' down here. (chorus)

La la lalalala, la la lala, la la lalalala, la lala. La la lalalala, la la lala, la la lalalala, la.

There's spirits above and behind me, faces gone black, eyes burnin' bright.

May their precious blood bind me, Lord, as I stand before your fiery light. (la la...)

3. I see you Mary in the garden, in the garden of a thousand sighs,

there's holy pictures of our children dancin' in a sky filled with light.

May I feel your arms around me, may I feel your blood mix with mine,

a dream of life comes to me, like a catfish dancin' on the end of my line.

Sky of blackness and sorrow, sky of love, sky of tears.

Sky of glory and sadness, sky of mercy, sky of fear.

Sky of memory and shadow, your burnin' wind fills my arms tonight.

Sky of longing and emptiness, sky of fullness, sky of blessed life.