Faron Young - Reverend Mr. Black Lyrics
(Billy Ed Wheeler - Jed Peters)He rode easy in the saddleHe was tall and leanAt first you thought nothingBut a streak of mean.Could make a man lookSo downright strongBut one look in his eyes and you knowThat you was wrong.He was a mountain of a manAnd I want you to knowHe could preach hot hellOf freezin' snow.He carried a bibleIn a canvas sackThe folks just called himThe Reverend Mr. Black.He was poor as a beggarBut he rode like a kingAnd sometimes in the eveningYou could hear him sing.I've gotta walk that lonesome valleyI've gotta walk it by myselfOh, nobody else can make it for meI've gotta walk it by myself.If ever I could haveThrough this man in blackWas sort or hadAny yellow up his back.I gave that nationUp the dayA lumberjack came inAnd it want to pray.And he kicked openThat meetin' house doorHe cussed everybodyUp and down the floor.Then when things get quietIn the placeWalked up and cussedIn the preacher's face.And he hit that reverendLike the kick of a muleTo my way of thinkingIt took a pure fool.To turn the other cheekTo that lumberjackBut that's what he didThe Reverend Mr. Black.Well, he stood like a rockA man among menAnd he let that lumberjackHit him again.Then with a voiceAs kind as could beHe cut him downLike a big oak tree.When he said, you've gotta walk that lonesome valleyYou've gotta walk it by yourselfOh, nobody else can make it for youYou've gotta walk it by yourself.It's been many years since we had to partAnd I guess I've learned his ways by heartI can still hear his sermonts ringDown in the valley where he used to sing.I followed his yes sir and I don't regret itAnd I hope that I can be of creditTo his memory for you understandThe Reverend Mr. Black was my old man.You've gotta walk that lonesome valleyYou've gotta walk it by yourselfOh, nobody else can make it for youYou've gotta walk it by yourself...
