Hold my hand
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down to the bottom of the river
Hold my hand,
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down, a long way down
 
If you get sleep or if you get none
The cock’s gonna call in the morning, baby
Check the cupboard for your daddy’s gun
Red sun rises like an early warning
The Lord’s gonna come for your first born son
His hair’s on fire and his heart is burning
So go to the river where the water runs
Wash him deep where the tides are turning

And if you fall
And if you fall
 
Hold my hand
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down to the bottom of the river
Hold my hand,
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down, a long way down
 
The wolves will chase you by the pale moonlight
Drunk and driven by a devil’s hunger
Drive your son like a railroad spike
Into the water, let it pull him under
Don’t you lift him, let him drown alive
The good Lord speaks like a rolling thunder
Let that fever make the water rise
And let the river run dry
 
And I said
 
Hold my hand
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down to the bottom of the river
Hold my hand,
Ooh, baby, it’s a long way down, a long way down
Hold my hand,
Ooh, baby, it's a long way, a long long long way,
Hold my hand,
Ooh, baby, it's a long way down, a long way down

                          Thanks to Jewel for correcting these lyrics