SET MY SPIRIT FREE

Lachlan Irvine

[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [G] Wash my body in the [D] wa-[G]-ter,
[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [C] Set my [D] spirit [G] free.

Gotta [G] keep on moving to the [C] ri-[G]-ver,
[G] Keep on moving to the [D] ri-[G]-ver,
Gotta [G] keep on moving to the [C] ri-[G]-ver,
'Cause the [C] devil's comin' [D] after [G] me.

[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [G] Wash my body in the [D] wa-[G]-ter,
[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [C] Set my [D] spirit [G] free.

The [G] sins of the world are so [C] hea-[G]-vy,
The [G] sins of the world are so [D] hea-[G]-vy,
The [G] sins of the world are so [C] heavy, [G] Lord,
Won't you [C] take these [D] chains from [G] me.

[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [G] Wash my body in the [D] wa-[G]-ter,
[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [C] Set my [D] spirit [G] free.

When I [G] look out across the [C] ri-[G]-ver,
[G] look out across the [D] ri-[G]-ver,
When I [G] look out across the [C] ri-[G]-ver,
[C] Salvation is [D] what I'll [G] see.

[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [G] Wash my body in the [D] wa-[G]-ter,
[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [C] Set my [D] spirit [G] free.

[G] I'm gonna get across the [C] ri-[G]-ver,
[G] Gonna get across the [D] ri-[G]-ver,
[G] I'm gonna get across the [C] ri-[G]-ver,
[C] Peace is gonna [D] come to [G] me.

[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [G] Wash my body in the [D] wa-[G]-ter,
[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [C] Set my [D] spirit [G] free.

If my [G] body don't make it 'cross the [C] ri-[G]-ver,
My [G] body don't make it 'cross the [D] ri-[G]-ver,
If my [G] body don't make it 'cross the [C] ri-[G]-ver,
My [C] soul will [D] still be [G] free.

[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [G] Wash my body in the [D] wa-[G]-ter,
[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [C] Set my [D] spirit [G] free.
[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [G] Wash my body in the [D] wa-[G]-ter,
[G] Wash my body in the [C] wa-[G]-ter, [C] Set my [D] spirit [G] free.

I grew up listening to my mother singing old "Negro spirituals." In these songs rivers have a double meaning. They represent the spiritual cleansing of sins in the River Jordan, but the crossing of rivers is also the means of escape from slavery in the southern US states and reaching the freedom of the north. This is my attempt at writing a song in that tradition.

To hear my home-made recording of this song, go to:

SET MY SPIRIT FREE

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