Saints and children we have gathered here to hear the sacred story

And I'm glad to bring it to you with my best rhyming and rhythm

'Cause I know the thirsty listen and down to the waters come

And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America



And if you listen to my songs I hope you hear the water falling

I hope you feel the oceans crashing on the coast of north New England

I wish I could be there just to see them, two summers past I was

And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America



And if I were a painter I do not know which I'd paint

The calling of the ancient stars or assembling of the saints

And there's so much beauty around us for just two eyes to see

But everywhere I go I'm looking



And once I went to Appalachia for my father he was born there

And I saw the mountains waking with the innocence of children

And my soul is still there with them wrapped in the songs they brought

And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America



And I've seen by the highways on a million exit ramps

Those two-legged memorials to the laws of happenstance

Waiting for four-wheeled messiahs to take them home again

But I am home anywhere if You are where I am



And if you listen to my songs I hope you hear the water falling

I hope you feel the oceans crashing on the coast of north New England

I wish I could be there just to see them, two summers past I was

And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America