[Verse 1]
Meet me by the riverside later on the day
Gonna watch the hanging of an honest man
They say he ain't the guilty one
But someone has to pay
They will not be pleased before they see him hang

[Chorus]
As he cries out
Turn and face the crowd as he cries out
No one makes a sound as he cries out
Before he hits the ground, he cries out
Where's your spirit now?
Drown me in the river, string me from the tree
So won't you free the slave in me?

[Post-Chorus]
Woah-oh, woah-oh

[Verse 2]
Leave me when the time is near, leave me be in peace
This is not the way you should remember me
Have you nothing else to say? The final words of truth
Forgive them, father, for they know not what they do

[Chorus]
As he cries out
Mercy can't be found as he cries out
No one makes a sound as he cries out
Before he hits the ground, he cries out
Where's your savior now?
Throw me in the ocean, cast me in the sea
So won't you free the slave in me?
[Bridge]
Don't you know, oh, don't you know?
Woah, they're gonna come for you
You can run, run on out
Oh, they're gonna come for you
Until you bleed, oh
Until you bleed, oh
Dark days are comin'
Dark days, so you should take shelter
You should take shelter
Dark days are comin'
Dark days are here

[Outro]
So is your conscience clear?
Have you seen the brave man hanging from a tree?
Say, who will be the first to see?