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