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Ellis Paul

God's Promise

I DIDNT PROMISE YOU
SKYES PAINTED BLUE
ALL COLOR'D FLOWRERS ALL Y'R DAYS THRU
I DIDN'T PROMISE YOU
SUN WITH NO RAIN
JOYS WITHOUT SORROWES
PEACE WITHOUT PAINE

ALL TH'T I PROMISE
IS STRENGTH FOR THIS DAY
REST FOR MY WORKER AND LITE ON Y'R WAY
I GIVE YOU TRUTHE WHEN YOU NEED IT
MY HELP FR'M ABOVE
MY UNDYING FRIENDSHIP MUY UNFAILING LOVE

I NEVER DID PROMISE YOU
CROWNS WITHOUT TRIALS
FOOD WITH NO HARD SWEAT Y'R TEARS WITHOUT SMILES
HOT SUNNY DAYS
WITHOUT COLDE WINTRY SNOWES
NO VICT'RY WI'THOUT FIGHTIN NO LAFFS WITHOUT WOES

ALL TH'T I PROMISE
IS STRENGTH FOR THIS DAY
REST FOR MY WORKER MY LITE ON Y'R WAY
I GIVE YOU TRUTHE WHEN YOU NEED IT
MY HELP FR'M ABOVE
UNDYING FRIENDSHIP MUY UNFAILING LOVE

I SHURE DIDNT SAY ID GIVE YOU
HEAVEN ON EARTH
A LIFE WITH NO LABOR NO STRUGGLES NO DEARTHS
NO EARHYTHYQUAKES NO DRYSPELLS
NO FIREFLAMES NO DROUTHES
NO SLAVING NO HUNGERS NO BLEEZERDS NO BLIGHTES

ALL TH'T I PROMISE
IS STRENGTH FOR THIS DAY
REST FOR MY WORKER MY LITE ON Y'R WAY
I GIVE YOU TRUTHE WHEN YOU NEED IT
MY HELP FR'M ABOVE
UNDYING FRIENDSHIP MUY UNFAILING LOVE

I PROMISE YOU POWER
THIS MINUTE THIS HOURE
THE POWER YOU NEED WHEN YOU FALLDOWN TO BLEED
I GIVE YOU MY PEACE
AND MY STRENGTH TA PULL HOME
MY LOVE FOR ALL RACES ALL KREEDS AND ALL KINDES

MY FLAVORS MY SAVOURES MY CREEDS OF ALL KINDS
MY L O V E FOR MY RACES ALL KOLORES ALL KINDES
MY L O V E FOR MY RACES ALL KREEDERS ALL KINDES
MY SAVOURES MY FLAVOURES MY DANCERS ALL KINDES
MY DANCERS MY PRANCERS MY SINGERS ALL KINDES
MYE FLAVOURES MY SAVOURES MY DANCERS ALL KINDES

Words by Woody Guthrie, 1955 Copyright 2002 Woody Guthrie Publications, BMI
(This version edited by Ellis Paul from a longer piece.)