Reverend Mr. Black



Artists: The Kingston Trio (peak Billboard position # 8 in 1963)

Words and Music by Billy Edd Wheeler, Jed Peters, Jerry Lieber, and Mike Stoller



He rode easy in the saddle, he was tall and lean

And at first ya thought nothin?but a streak of mean

Could make a man look so downright strong

But one look in his eyes and ya knowed ya was wrong

He was a mountain of a man and I want ya to know

He could preach hot hell in the freezin?snow

He carried a bible in a canvas sack

The folks just called him the Reverend Mr. Black

He was poor as a beggar but he rode like a king

And sometimes in the evenin?I could hear him sing



I got to walk that lonesome valley

I got to walk it by myself

for nobody else can walk it for me

I got to walk it by myself.



If ever I could have thought this man in black

Was soft , had any yellow up his back

I gave that notion up the day

A lumberjack came in and a-wasnt a-praying

I followed him, yes sir, and I dont regret it

Hope that Ill always be a credit to his memory

cause I want ya to understand

The Reverend Mr. Black was my old man



You got to walk that lonesome valley

You got to walk it by yourself

for nobody else can walk it for you

You got to walk it by yourself.



You got to walk that lonesome valley

FADE: You got to walk it by yourself

for nobody



Transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz

ronhontz@worldnet.att.net