I woke up this mornin'
Stumbled out of bed
The first thing that happened to me
I found myself
In a remote desert church
I laid down on the altar to sing
I'm gonna lay down on the altar
There is no better place, no better place
To lay down on the altar, and sing
Up from the stone
The moss and the bone
Arose a benevolent song
I opened my mouth,
My hands and my heart
And sang to the ceiling above
I'm gonna lay down on the altar
There is no better place, no better place
To lay down on the altar, and sing
Lay it down
Give it up
Lay it down
And sing
There are sixteen candles
In the corner
Patiently awaiting the light
The Good Book is open
To a page about the barren womb
Of a women
For whom singing is right
I'm gonna lay down on the altar
There is no better place, no better place
To lay down on the altar, and sing
Lay it down
Give it up
Lay it down
And sing
By the old slave block auction
In a tunnel full of breeze
Way down in New Orleans
The winds conjured up
Every slave in my heart
And decided to set them free
I'm gonna lay down on the altar
There is no better place, no better place
To lay down on the altar, and sing
Aaah. . .
. . .And sing
I woke up this morning
Stumbled out of bed
The first thing that happened
I found myself
In a remote desert church
I laid down on the altar to sing