Out Of The Fire Lyrics - Sing The Delta - Iris Dement

On a gravel back-road, down deep in the Fall 

So long ago, yet how well I recall 

My Grandfather's green truck with the rusted-out rims 

and me on the seat, 'tween my Mamma and him 

How we rattled along, 'till the old Ford, it stalled 

and Momma said "Jump on out, pick you a big cotton ball" 

An Autumn leaf scraped its way 'cross the road 

we were headed back home. 

See the proud, thrusting, curve of the robin's red breast 

out gathering worms to return to her nest, 

the lavender haze at the first light of dawn, 

a woman's clear voice lilting in song, 

and all the fine words our poets have said, 

the sparkling dew upon the spider's silk web! 

Does one matter more? Does one matter less? 

Who of us can say? 

The tents are rolled up, the Revival's left town 

all that remains is the fine sawdust ground 

still wet from the tears that fell from the eyes 

of folks too far down to hang back in pride 

And I am here, too, like I always was: 

deep in the pain, strong in the love 

still singing my prayer to Heaven above 

heartfelt and true. 

Once you were the dawn, the dusk, and the light 

Without the dream of holding you tight 

my days turned to black, I could hardly take breath 

I stumbled my way thru a fate worse than death 

But like the Phoenix that rose right out of the fire, 

I came back too, from a bed of desire 

and shook from my wings the ash from the pyre, 

and headed back home.