Take 'em Away

(Chorus:) Take ‘em away, take ‘em away, Lord Take away these chains from me My heart is broken ‘cause my spirit’s not free Lord take away these chains from me Some birds’ feathers are too bright to be caged I know I’m not that colorful but a bird just the same Open up your gate now, let me put down my load So I can feel at ease and go back to my home (Chorus) Sun beatin’ down, my legs can’t seem to stand There’s a boss man at a turnrow with a rifle in his hand I’ve got nine child, nothin’ in the pan My wife she died hungry while I was plowin’ land (Chorus) Can’t see when I go to work, can’t see when I get off How do you expect a man not to get lost Every year I just keep getting deeper in debt If there’s a happy day, Lord, I haven’t seen one yet (Chorus) Land that I love is the land that I’m workin’ But it’s hard to love it all the time when your back is a-hurtin’ Gettin’ too old now to push this here plow Please let me lay down so I can look at the clouds (Chorus) Land that I know is where two rivers collide The Brazos the Navaso and the big blue sky Flood plains, freight trains, watermelon vines Of any place on God’s green earth, this is where I choose to die (Chorus)