Oh how he labors, oh how he labors
Will you come inside?
You toil through the night
Mother is crying, mother is crying
Her tennessee tears echo through the rafters, my God

Eli has fallen, eli has fallen
The quarry caught his boot and cut into his cheek
Salt tears and blood dear, salt tears and blood dear
Evening hides home, and eli is alone out in dark
My God

See how the wind whips up through the oak boughs
Child do not dwell on that which makes you ill
Echo the gale song, sing bold and sing strong
And when you hear his name, say it not in vain
Oh be right
My God