They raised a canvas tent by the old mill road, Set out wooden benches where the tall grass growed, Folks came walking, some came riding into town, When the sun went low and the preacher came around. There was sawdust on the floor and lanterns hanging high, An old King James Bible and a fire in his eye, Then somebody struck a fiddle, that old banjo joined in, And before the first hymn ended, you could feel it begin. [Chorus] Oh, the old revival came rolling through, Like a mighty wind from Heaven blowing strong and true, There were hands raised high and sinners kneeling down, When the old revival came to town. We sang about Jesus and the blood He shed, How He walked out living from among the dead, And you could hear “Hallelujah!” for a country mile around, When the old revival came to town. [Instrumental Turnaround – Fiddle runs, banjo roll, deep twangy guitar lick, moaning sax answer] [Verse 2] Old Brother Johnson shouted from the back-row seat, Miss Annie started crying when she fell down on her knees, A farmer who’d been wandering for twenty years or more, Walked that dusty aisle and found the Savior at the door. No stained-glass windows, no carpet on the floor, Just folks who came believing there was mercy from the Lord, The preacher spoke of Calvary, the empty garden grave, And told us there was still a Christ with power enough to save. [Chorus] Oh, the old revival came rolling through, Like a mighty wind from Heaven blowing strong and true, There were hands raised high and sinners kneeling down, When the old revival came to town. We sang about Jesus and the blood He shed, How He walked out living from among the dead, And you could hear “Hallelujah!” for a country mile around, When the old revival came to town. [Instrumental Break – Fast fiddle and banjo trade-off, drums driving underneath; deep, echoing guitar riff followed by a long, soulful moaning saxophone phrase] [Verse 3] Well, the years rolled on and that old tent came down, And houses stand today where we gathered on that ground, But I still hear those voices when the evening shadows fall, Singing “Just As I Am” while the preacher gave the call. I remember Mama praying and Daddy saying “Amen,” And the night I gave my heart to Jesus way back then, You can keep your bright attractions and your polished city sound, Give me one more night when revival comes to town. [Bridge – Music drops back; banjo and soft fiddle underneath deep male vocal] We didn't come for entertainment, We didn't come for show, We came to hear the Gospel, And let the whole world know: Jesus Christ is risen, Jesus Christ is King, And when the saints get stirred again, You're gonna hear us sing! [Big Final Chorus – Full band] Oh, let the old revival come rolling through, Like a mighty wind from Heaven blowing strong and true, Let the hands rise high, let the lost come kneeling down, Let the old revival come to town! Sing about Jesus and the blood He shed, Sing about the morning when He rose up from the dead, Let the fiddle cry, the banjo ring, and shake that holy ground, Let the old revival come to town! [Repeat – Bigger] Let the old revival come to town! Let the Gospel trumpet sound! Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Let the old revival come to town!
