oh let me lay down beside my dear friend who has gone away cover me over with dirt and sod let me hasten my departure day for i long for that day when we'll be dancin on the stormclouds to shake the rain from the sky onto our graves we'll all be waiting for that day well will whitmore mixed up some shine filled up the jug and met us walkin down the line the line the line he met us walkin down the line to join our friend in heaven down the line and every chain gang in heaven lifted up their arms made an aisle for him to walk between the rows and each plant bowed down toward him as he passed as he passed they kept their necks in reverence for the preacher's son