Michael Franti & Spearhead

Wayfarin' Stranger

Michael Franti & Spearhead


I'm just a poor wayfarin' stranger 
travelin through this world of woe 
ther's no sickness toll nor sorrow 
in that bright world to which I go 
I'm going there to see my father 
I'm goin' there no more to roam 
I'm just a goin' over Jordan 
I'm just a goin' over home 

Ya see I'm a concrete buffalo soldier 
I gotta chip it's like boulder in my shoulder 
look in my eyes and you can see a red marble 
like Nostradamus I'm the promise of tomorrow 
traveling the city with my mexican cargo 
cotton mouth - I take a dry swallow 
to the nearest corner watering hole 
the bartender with the deed for my soul 
satisfaction no I can't get no 
lotsa bad habits that I need to control 
recite the salms but no emancipation 
church for food and liquor stores for salvation 
some day I'll make 
it home to see my father 
he saw the man who shot the coal mine's daughter 
and if I had a dime for every gamble I risked 
I could buy a diamond for the woman I miss ya see 

I'm just a poor wayfarin' stranger 
ya check with me ya checking in with the danger 
I'm just a poor wayfarin' stranger 
roaming the streets seeking Jesus in a manger 

I'm goin' there to see my Mother 
she said she'll meet me when I come 
I'm just a goin' over Jordan I'm just a goin' over home 
Jordan river roll river Jordan roll River Jordan roll on 

Gee ain't it funny - how time slips away I wanna 
rewind the tape to see my life replay 
I soack up the sun - just as a reminder 
that I was born a sick side winder 
call me a vagrant, no machine to read your fax 
I'll never pledge allegiance to your blood sweat and taxes 
don't ever mistake me being docile for contentment 
don't ever mistake my anger for resentment 

it's just the calm before the storm that's why I'm quite 
ya always mistaking an upraising for a race riot 
you can take my life - but there's no escape 
'cause you can't shoot yer way through the pearly gates 
so swing low sweet cadillac 
coming for to carry me home 
swing low pink cadillac 
stepping over Jordan I roam 

Ya see 
I'm just a poor wayfarin' stranger 
ya check with me ya checking in with danger 
I'm just a poor wayfarin' stranger 
roaming the streets seeking Jesus in a manger 

I'm goin' there to see my father 
I'm goin' there no more to roam 
I'm just a goin' over Jordan 
I'm just a goin' over home 

When the road is callin' yonder 
when the road is callin' yonder 
When the road is callin' 
when the road is callin' yonder 
I'll be there 

I'm goin' there to see my father 
I'm goin' there no more to roam 
I'm just a goin' over Jordan 
I'm just a goin' over home