LANGSTON'S RIVER song lyrics

[based on THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS
by Langston Hughes]

I
I have known rivers
rivers that move cross the plains
rivers as ancient
and old as the world
older than the blood in our veins

my soul has grown deep as the rivers
again and again and again
rivers as ancient
and old as the world
older than the blood in our veins

I bathed in Euphrates
when the world was young
built by the Congo
which lulled me to sleep
looked on the Nile
built pyramids high
I have known rivers so deep

have heard the Mississippi sing
when Lincoln went down to New Orlean
the muddy bosom turned to gold
in sunset that's what I've seen

I have known rivers
older than dust
I have known rivers
ancient and dusky

rivers as ancient
and old as the world
older than the blood in our veins
my soul has grown deep as the rivers
again and again and again

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The Negro Speaks of Rivers
by Langston Hughes

I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

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