Neither Crown nor Chaos

Lord, I been watchin’ that river roll… Seen it flood… seen it run dry… Still keeps movin’ on… Some folks cry freedom with a fist raised high Till the streets catch flame and the sparks fill the sky Then fear comes rollin’ like thunder through town And everybody starts lookin’ for a heavier crown One voice says “Leave me be” One voice says “Bow to me” Both roads bend where the shadows grow And I’ve seen where they both can go Too much chain gonna break the bone Too much freedom leaves you all alone Somewhere between the flood and stone We build a place we can call our own I want neither crown nor chaos Neither chains nor broken roads No hand above to rule in shadow No soul abandoned in the cold Bring your hands, brother Bring your heart, sister Build it strong together And make the burden lighter Neither crown nor chaos That’s the road I know We keep freedom alive Walkin’ that middle road History swings like an old church bell From heaven’s promise down through hell Tear one ruler down to the ground Another one rises when fear comes around A house built high on one man’s name Always burns in the same old flame And a field with nobody tendin’ rows Won’t give you nothin’ but weeds that grow A strong back bends but it doesn’t break A shared load’s lighter for everybody’s sake A river runs wider where small streams flow That’s the truth this old world knows I want neither crown nor chaos Neither chains nor broken roads No hand above to rule in shadow No soul abandoned in the cold Bring your hands, brother Bring your heart, sister Build it strong together And make the burden lighter Neither crown nor chaos That’s the road I know We keep freedom alive Walkin’ that middle road Freedom ain’t easy Never was It’s calloused hands And patient love It’s neighbors speakin’ Before anger shouts It’s doors held open When the lights go out It’s not surrender And it’s not control It’s learnin’ how to carry A shared load home Neither crown nor chaos Neither chains nor broken roads No throne above to cast a shadow No one left standin’ alone in the cold Bring your hands, brother Bring your heart, sister Build it strong together And make the burden lighter Neither crown nor chaos Let the old truth show We keep freedom alive Walkin’ that middle road Neither crown… Neither chaos… Just the fire we keep between us… No throne to kneel to… No world alone… Just hands together… And the long road home… Mm… keep walkin’ on… Mm… keep walkin’ on…