Mama, dear mama, look in yonder tree See that pretty little sparrow, a-lookin' back at me She can soar above the clouds, way up in the sky She can fly away from here, why, o why, can't I? Daughter, dear daughter, I'll tell you something true Remember Gran Eliza, well, every night she flew They tried to keep her down but there was nothing they could do She could fly, she could fly She could slip the bonds of earth and rise so high She could fly across the river Her spirit in her hands Searching, always searching for the promised land Mama, dear mama, mama tell me more I feel a trembling in my arms, I've never felt before Daughter, dear daughter, listen what I say Your granny always told me you'd feel that way some day Every time she looked at you she saw the old-time ways When we could fly, we could fly We could slip the bonds of earth and rise so high We could fly across the mountains Together, hand in hand Searching, always searching for the promised land Mama, dear mama, come and stand by me I feel a lightness in my feet, a longing to be free My heart it is a-shakin' with an old, old song I hear the voices sayin', it's time for moving on She took her mama by the hand, they rose up in the air They held each other tight and then They flew away from there They held each other tight and then they flew away from there They could fly, they could fly They could slip the bonds of earth and rise so high They could fly across the ocean Together, hand in hand Searching, always searching for the promised land

I've got a babe but shall I keep him 'Twill come the day when I'll be weepin' But how can I love him any less This little babe upon my breast You can take my body You can take my bones You can take my blood But not my soul You can take my body You can take my bones You can take my blood But not my soul I've got a body dark and strong I was young but not for long You took me to bed a little girl Left me in a woman's world You can take my body You can take my bones You can take my blood But not my soul You can take my body You can take my bones You can take my blood But not my soul Day by day I work the line Every minute overtime Fingers nimble, fingers quick My fingers bleed to make you rich You can take my body You can take my bones You can take my blood But not my soul You can take my body You can take my bones You can take my blood But not my soul You can take my body (you can take) You can take my bones (my body, you can take) You can take my blood (my bones, you can take) But not my soul (my soul) Take my body (you can take) You can take my bones (my body, you can take) You can take my blood (my bones) But not my soul (you can take my blood) I've got a babe but shall I keep him