The Funeral Chords

Lyrics & chords

[Verse 1]
I [D]was [G]walking in Savannah
past a church de[D]cayed and dim
when slowly through the window
came a plaintive funeral [A]hymn
and my sympathy awakened
and a wonder quickly grew
[D]till I found myself envired
in a little colored pew.
Out [G]front a couple
sat in sorrow nearly while.
On the [D]altar was a casket
and in the casket was a [A]child.
I could picture him [G]while living,
[D]curly hair, protruding lips.
I'd seen perhaps a thousand
[G]in my hurried southern trips.
Rose a sad old colored preacher
[D]from his little wooden desk
with a manner sort of awkward
and countenance grot[G]esque.
The simplicity and shrewdness
[Gm]in his Ethiopi[D]an face
showed the wisdom and ignorance
of a [A]crushed, undying race.
[D]And he said, now don't be weeping
for this pretty bit of clay,
for the little [Gm]boy who lived there
is done [G]gone and run away.
[D]He was doing very finely
and he appreciates your [A]love,
but his shona [Em]father wanted [D]him
in that big house up above.
The Lord didn't give you that baby
by no hundred thousand miles.
He just think you need some
[G]sunshine
and he lent it for a while.
And he let you keep and [D]love it
till your hearts was
bigger grown.
And these silver tears
[A]you're shedding now
is just interest on the loan.
Just [Bm]thank my poor
[D]dear Mona's
creeping long on sorrow's way.
What a [G]blessed picnic
[Gm]this here [G]baby got today.
Your good [D]fathers and good mothers
crowd the little fellow [A]round
In the angel's tender garden
of the big [D]plantation ground.
And his eyes [G]they brightly sparkle
at the pretty things he view,
But a tear came [D]and he whisper,
I want my parents too.
But then the angel's chief [G]musician
teach that little boy a song,
Says, if only they be faithful,
[D]they'll soon be coming along.
[A]So, my poo[Am]r detached mou[D]rners,
let your hearts with Jesus rest,
And don't go to criticizing
the [G]one what knows the best.
He hath given us many [D]comforts,
he's got the right to take away.
Till the [A]Lord be praised in glory forever,
[G]let us [D]pray.[G][D]
[A][D][G]