Leave Me Praying (Lyrics)
'This song appeared in the Dave and Tim 1997 tour as a slight evolution from the 1996 Dave and Tim song known as "Weight of the World." During 1997, the song became widely known as "Weight of the World / Leave Me Praying". For the purposes of distinction, we designate "Weight of the World" as the original 1996 incantation and "Leave Me Praying" as the incantation from 1997 until its evolution into "Don't Drink the Water" during the Before These Crowded Streets studio sessions.
01.25.1997
And how we dream and turn our arms to nothing
oh we sing lay down for all and leave mine away
so lay me the valley of the dead
long ago while I share my dream
say, share them with the others why
sometimes it seems we're only
here to stomp away the lies
I had a dream that we would sail
across blue oceans clean and high
say nothing will believe and lie
and I take my hand over there
led me to your outside, yeah
now I leave you there
I leave you quietly
if you say promise that your leadings
and I'll change all the way that we, we read
I went to sail across the wild ocean blue
trying to find the wisdom
that my mother sang devotion to me
so all the fish were bursting
and all were lying belly up
and the beached whale sighs
and thinks he can get enough
Way of the land, I would be over it
Then pay from the hand of all
I say this land is our land
this land is my land
from California to the New York islands
from the redwood forest
to the gulf stream waters
this land was made for you and me
02.17.1997
Oh in excitement
home that we call this
but charged with a lie
of a line and as we go over
oh proud and strong
we cuttin' down the babies and mothers
and leave them to die while we
plant all over it
and call it home
I swear that the life it leaves me crazy
but still I should call it home
And nail this soil
as I live on this stolen land
and I love it like no other
and from that my grandfather would sing,
"a woman you charge
you're charging the trumpet calls
blow on your flute, pound on your drum, victory calls
oh no mother and no child could resist this army
drive on west
we will plant
we will grow the way we like"
when it rains on the sea
my heart is bleeding
but still I should call it home
and teach my babies
my son and my daughter
to love this place
and share it with no one...
and we stow it and we sell
and the drum goes on pounding here
And while I plant my wheat
I will hold my land dear
I will protect my ones
I will protect my golding
And I'll stand up on top and scream that I own it
but what of the spirit that
lies in the soil here why
oh then should I call it home
and then I will tell
my son and my daughters to hold it so dear
and share it with all, yea
and then I will tell
my sons and my daughters
to hold it dear
and share it with everyone
this land is your land
this land is my land
from California to the New York islands
from the redwood forest
to the gulf stream waters
this land was made for you and me...
06.10.1997
oh my father before my father went
sailed over the ocean to save his fate
found a new land and called it home
and procede to make his house and reign
fate on my head i wouldn’t be here
fate on my father oh
lying in the sand was drawn back in here
and promises made not to transverse it
came on a light i know
laid down and called it home
so we fight with those who burned me
before me and mine
i pray forgiveness
pray forgive me
and so before my time
i pray that those in me
lay on my vine and die
say it so when we plant and seeds here
and place out the color replace all this
we say that it’s all for greatest good
we say that we call it home
and so this war
so does the thing that
that from a child the mothers know it
and so we go away
oh the gun and the bullet
steal my sister
brother would you be home
yeah that’s all
this land is your land
this land is my land
from california to the new york island
from the redwood forest
to the gulf stream waters
this land was made
we'll see for
lay down and more die
06.19.1997
Oh, here we must stand, so my father told me
from a distant lands our sisters sailed here
oh, across ocean to a new land I sail
and you and I know well could freely pray
Say I will know my notice here
and say I'll leave you my lie
Oh, so he said they found a new pie
this sweet new land of theirs
they would have to divide
Well I say I will notice you right here
and say I would call it home
And so I will say to these our new neighbors
"you must move on or we will bury you
we will bury you"
and so it was said to this our new neighbors
"you must move on or we will bury you"
Mother, I dreamed I fear this way
as I stare up the rivers that float to the lakes
as I stare at the skies
and the oceans that pound me
I think what of those
who lived long, long before me
Yeah I will my lay ghost to lay
and yet I will call this home
I believe that so it was said
to those our new neighbors
"you must move on or we will bury you
we will bury you"
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
"you must move on or we will bury you"
Said this land is your land, this land is my land
from California to the New York islands
from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
this land was made
I say yet I will call this home
(wail and chant)
so I will call it home
home
06.20.1997
Oh well my father he once told me
of those who before him had sailed the sea
in search of a new land, a new country
and upon my home these men won't find me
Say I will lay my hands here
say I would call it home
Oh and then they find that I'm here
there was mothers fathers and children already here
Would well I will lay no one tell away
well I would call it home
And so it was said to this our new neighbors
"you must move on or we will bury you"
And so it was said to this our new neighbors
"you must move on or we will bury you"
Oh and so they must live across this land
through the coldest of winters and driest of sand
and lay down the old and lay down the young there
to die every march to the endless fading light
Oh and yeah I will hear you believe me here
at the end I will call it home
I say, say
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
"you must move on or we will bury you"
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
"you must move on and we will, yeah"
This land is your land, this land is my land
from California to the New York islands
from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
this land was made and yeah I will call it home
06.22.1997
Oh, here my father, so he told me
How is father’s father had sailed the sea
In the search of a land where prairies free
And his children’s children, you and me
Here I will lay my money down
Yes, I would call it home
Oh, what they did not consider are those who are here
Oh, those mothers, those fathers, and children dear
Who said I will you I think no longer
For both you and us to call this home
And so it was said to these, our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
Oh, we will bury you
And so it was said to these, our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
Bury you
Oh, and I lay my soul in grief
And my home is buried on the death that he...
Oh, and I must take oh no rest for me
Until those who were buried have rest in peace
Say yet I will no know no other tale
And yet I will mourn no one
For so it was said to these, our new friends
You must move on or we will bury you
We will bury you
And, and so it was said to these, our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made....
Oh and me, yet I will call it home
Me
06.23.1997
Oh, well remember father spoke to me
Told me how his ancestors sailed the sea
Away, were searching for a new land
Where the air might not freely ??
Yes, I believe my ??
Yes, I would call it home
So, there
I wouldn’t ask the question, his eyes
Is how they could find the single common ??
Yes, I would make my feelings heard
Yes, I would call it home
So it was said to these our new neighbors
We must move on or we will bury you
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
Oh, how would father forgive his children
Oh, and how did father forgive us our sin
Still, I will make my voice heard
Yes, I ??
So it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
We will bury you
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made
See, yet I would call it mine
06.25.1997
Oh, remember a story a father told me
Of how our ancestors had sailed the sea
Bravely in search of a land for free
Then with their prayers, ?
Said I will lay my body home
This land I call home
He spoke very highly of brave and soul
And how they found people had been here before
And said they must lay chained as the sea
Said that you called it home
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you (scat)
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
Father, by design had failed
To supply us with freedom we had stolen anyway
Yet, I would mourn, I’m so guilty
Will my son call it home
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
Stolen, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream water
This land was made
Well steal it, yet I will call it home
06.26.1997
oh when the story my father told me
the story of how ancestors
sailed the sea
and they search for a land where they could ??
now would lead to ??
?? my mind races
then they would build my ??
what we deny they said to us
to find ??
to find our mothers, fathers and children all ready there
so ??
no man
no prayer I bring
?? my heart
??
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
we must move on or they will bury us
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
[wailing]
and so ??
and I stood
dreading of my fate (?)
and so I stood
not beliving what father said
that I might remember
on another ??
and I might
home that they built on the father's grave
?? away I hold this fear
so ?? calling ??
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
??
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
we will bury you
this land is your land
this land is my land
from California to the New York island
from the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters
this land was made
well see it
??
[wailing]
[davespeak]
That's for our brothers from Thundercloud.
06.27.1997
I remember a story my father told me
Of how bravely the ancestors sailed the sea
In search of a new land where they might be
Very free to decide which way they see
Yes, I would leave that morning, head down
Faced in recalling a town
Unfortunate, the land was occupied
Fathers, mothers, daughters, husbands, and wives
And yet I must say, believe they did
They must recall a town
So it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
There was no fight at all between the arrow and gun
No fight at all between the endless ones, oh
They would march them across the cold winter's road
And the families before would see themselves so old
Yet I'm alone, the woman did leave
Through them, we'll make them mine
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
We will bury you
And so it was said to these our new neighbors
You must move on or we will bury you
We will bury you
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the gulf stream waters
This land was made
why do you.. calling out
06.28.1997
All those before our father's story
Who braved the ocean to find the land over sea
A place where they might raise a free family
And decide what direction to dream.
Swore I would see this golden day
Built on the head of land (?)
So we did ...
Where would we build this land of gold
Who will provide soldiers and bullets to clear the road
The weight on the shoulders of slaves to drive
Said I would call it home ...
Call it home
And so we do say to these our new neighbors
You must move on, or we will bury you
We will bury you
And so we do say to these our new neighbors
You must move on, or we will bury you
[wailing]
Oh, and they died and fell to dream
Stolen the language, stolen the sweet heartbeat
[incoherent Davemumble]
We have erased these good people with our silly human race
[incoherent Davemumble]
Said I would call it home ...
And so we do say to these our new neighbors
You must move on, or we will bury you
We will bury you
And so we do say to these our new strangers
You must move on, or we will bury you
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York island
From the Redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters,
This land was made for ...
07.01.1997
all those before my father's story
of how those seeking change had sailed the sea
tossed and bruised they were brought to the shores where ??
oh to a place where I might raise ??
well hell I would say no further lie (?)
a place and I call it home
and so it goes about the people
mothers fathers brothers sisters ??
so I ?? no room for you
and when our thoughts turn ??
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
oh how could I be staring ??
oh how could this be ?? a human race (?)
I could not the tears of the wife and the child to give grace (?)
then I clear these are the same in a different way
yes I believe my body ??
a place and I call it home
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
this land is your land
this land is my land
from California to the New York Island
from the redwood forest
to the gulf stream waters
this land was made
oh man ?? and call it home
[wailing]
home
07.02.1997
all those before my father's story
how the rich fools and criminals have sailed the sea
in search of a land maybe ideal to me
they thought to find riches there
so now I have been too long to dream
wondering the sound of home
oh so we see oh with pride we feel
oh we look to this bountiful history of ??
we stand and with nothing of those before
so draw me a sound of home
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
so well how could we justify rape
oh slicing the throats of the children we
by the pounding march to the drum and whistles blowing so brave
while mothers fathers and childrens put in their grave
yeah I will call no one to blame
yeah I will call it ??
and so it was said to these our new neighbors
you must move on or we will bury you
and so it was told in no uncertain terms
oh you must move on or we will bury you
you oh land is your land
this land is my land
from California to the New York islands
from the redwood forest
to the gulf stream waters
this land was made
yeah I will call it home
[wailing]
where are you mother
that are you dreaming of
where are you father
I know you're dreaming of
there is no war
I know you're dreaming of
where's the mother
I know you're dreaming of
where's the father
I know you're dreaming of
I know you're dreaming of
I know you're dreaming of
I know you're dreaming of
Other Working Title & Evolved From: Weight of The World
Evolved Into: Don't Drink The Water