If I died on the bayou When the sun is going down Would you float me like Moses? So they don't put me in the cold, hard ground Would you gather the bayou? Make a basket for me And open my eyes and loosen the ties And then set me free ♪ If I died on the rails The last southbound Would you ask the conductor To slow it on down, down, down? Chase that carriage The girl that you call It felt well, ring that bell To make it my last stop ♪ If I died on the mountain Far from my home Would you carry me down? Take a load of my weary bones Tell all my family There's nothing they need to bring Well, I left my life toil and strife But I died in peace