Wise Woman
Caroline Herring

I went up to the mountain
and came back a wise woman
went to the river
came back wiser still
only to see
you're as dear to me as the air I
breathe
won't you meet me at that mansion on
the hill

stuffed your mattress
wove your sheets
patched your blanket piece by piece
if the Lord had granted me a choice
I'd a held up my hand
we ground the corn
molded lard and lye
had ten children
and watched four die
I'll stand beside you when you meet the
promised land

chorus

danced to the fiddle on a Saturday
night
chopped the cotton before daylight
sun don't go down on a poor man's
woes
my love if you don't meet the dawn
I promise you I'll carry on
singing Precious Memories as I plant
along the rows

chorus 

won't you meet me on the mansion on
the hill 
won't you meet me on the mansion on
the hill

Noble man steps through the doorway 
bends to kiss his daughter's face 
he reaches out and pulls her to him 
clasping her in warm embrace 
'Emma, I cannot stay here 
the thunder calls me even now 
child you need no one to save you' 
and Emma moans as he goes

down below 
she goes

cursed is the one who never ceases
favor for the poor and crazed
you should see her daddy when he
preaches
voices singing among the graves
heaven reaches out and makes a
whisper
for to wake the haunts alive
Emma feels and Emma knows the
seasons
of the joys and the sighs

down below 
she goes

noble man walks through the doorway 
bends to touch his lover's face 
she reaches out and pulls him to her 
clasping him in warm embrace 
'Emma, I cannot stay here 
the thunder calls me even now 
woman, you need no one to save you' 
and Emma moans as he goes

down below 
she goes