Joe Henry Lead Me On
The day draws a shade
Pulls the thread of your frayed lace undone
It falls like the evenings
That charm then devour their young—
The face of the moon
On the river will shiver and run
From belief to surrender
And I want you to lead me on
The quiet of midnight
Is bright and it sounds an alarm
As men from the county line
Get down and take up their arms—
No one you can name
Is just that one thing they have shown
You speak from the shadows
And I want you to lead me on
The deep valley falls and it
Rises with blood in its eyes
The sharp mountain crawls into clouds
Wears a blade-thin disguise—
The hour is hung on a ladder rung
Cut from my bone—
You move high above me
And I want you to move me on…
This is my body-
Already broken for thee
The black coal at my soul not a diamond
But cracked open and free—
The dark rushing river sweeps
Pushing away and along
Like light through the pines
And I want you to lead me on