Mavis Staples Beautiful Strangers Lyrics

[Verse 1]
If you ever hear that thunder
Put your eye to the sky, boy, and wonder
Maybe there's a kingdom above the weather
Oh, and whether you're gonna get on in
Is up to you

[Verse 2]
If you ever hear that crying
In the distance like some siren
Maybe there's a singer with no ring
Around their little finger, oh love
And If I lose my voice
If I have no choice but to go quiet
Won't you sing for me
A melody into the night there

[Chorus]
And if I die too young
Oh, if the wolf he comes
Fee-fi-fo-fum
If I die too young
And the locust come
Then run, run, run free

[Verse 3]
If you ever hear that gunshot
You may think 'bout what you do but you don't got
Say a prayer
Think of mother
I am a rock

[Verse 4]
If you ever hear that sound now
If the door gets kicked in here, they come now
Think of others
Be their cover
I am what they're not

[Verse 5]
Pray for Paris
They cannot scare us
Or stop the music, no
You got a sweet voice, child
Why don't you use it?

[Chorus] And if I die too young
If the gunmen come
I'm full of love
So release me
Every piece of me
Up above
Up above, ooh

[Verse 6]
Love my mama and my papa
Love my sister
Can't stand the coppers
Up in their choppers
Oh, flying overhead
Forty-nine dead

[Verse 7]
Singing, oh my Lord come carry me home
Oh my Lord carry me home
Oh my Lord come carry me home

[Chorus]
And if I die too young
For something I ain't done
Carry my name everyday
Oh, I'm sorry
Oh, I'm sorry
Freddie Gray

[Chorus]
But sleep easy
Like baby Jesus
In a manger
Oh, sleep easy
Like baby Jesus
Beautiful stranger

[Chorus]
If I die too young
Let all that I've done
Be remembered

[Outro]
And I'll sleep easy
Like baby Jesus
In his manger
And I'll sleep easy
Like little Jesus
Safe from danger
Carry onward
Like some songbird
Beautiful stranger
Carry onward
Like some songbird
Beautiful stranger
Oh my lord, beautiful stranger
Oh my lord, beautiful stranger