I stand on ashes where once there stood a home
here lived my family, but now I stand alone
you told my papa to move us out of town
but he was a stubborn man, who always stood his ground
he taught his children that only cowards run
from hatred in the eye and a bullet in a gun
now some call me foolish for choosing to return
to face the man who lit the match and watched my family burn
(Chorus)
I saw your face through the smoke and the flames
and I prayed to God I could forget your name
I swore I'd hate you until the day I die
but now I'm back in Birmingham to look you in the eye
you were one of many men who lived your life in fear
that people who don't look like you would take what you held dear
but when you saw what you had done, you hit your knees and cried
and when you heard me screamin' you knew you'd believed a lie
you ran to the sheriff's house and told him what you did
he told you to go on home and not speak of this again
but you chose to pay for the wicked deed you'd done
and after thirty years behind these bars, you ask for me to come
(Chorus)
you tremble before me now as sorrow fills your eyes
and i can find no trace of the man I'd so despised
you asked me to forgive all the demons of your past
there's no time to waste for today will be your last
I've got thirty years of pain still alive inside of me
but before they send you to your grave I choose to set you free
yes, before they send you to your grave I choose to set you free
This New Haven duo write bright and emotionally resonant folk music where sweeping strings elevate gorgeous melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 23, 2021
A partnership between Yep Roc and The Southern Folklife Collection, the LP features a never-before-heard live performance by Doc Watson. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 16, 2018