Daniel and the Sacred Harp Songtext

von The Band

(Chorus:)
Daniel, Daniel and the sacred harp,
Dancing through the clover.
Daniel, Daniel would you mind,
If I look it over.

I heard of this famous harp years ago back in my home town
But I sure never thought old Daniel be the one to come and bring it around
Tell me Daniel how the harp came into your posession.
Are you one of the chosen few who will march in the the procession?

And Daniel said:
The sacred harp was handed down, from father unto son,
And me not being related, I could never be the one.
So I saved up all my silver, and took it to a man,
Who said he could deliver the harp, straight into my hand.

Three years I waited patiently,
'till he returned with the harp from the Sea of Galilee.
He said there is one more thing I must ask,
But not of personal greed.
But I wouldn't listen I just grabbed the harp,
And said take what you may need.

Now Daniel looked quite satisfied, and the harp it seemed to glow.
But the price that Daniel had really paid, he did not even know.
Back to his brother he took his troubled mind.
And he said dear brother I'm in a bind.
But the brother would not hear his tale,
He said old Daniel's gonna land in jail.
So to his father Daniel did run,
And he said oh father what have I done.
His father said son you've given in, you know you won your harp,
But you lost in sin.

Then Daniel took the harp and went high on the hill,
And he blew across the meadow like a whippoorwhill.
He played out his heart just the time to pass,
But as he looked to the ground, he noticed no shadow did he cast.

(Chorus)