Stormy Waters

My mother, as a bluegrass musician, talks about de-Jesus-ifying songs, replacing Jesus with something more secular. This is one song she never really did that with, probably because it felt too awkward. It's from the singing of Jimmy Martin, but I'll always hear it in the key my mom sings it in. There's a beautiful counterpoint harmony on the chorus, which I've provided in parentheses. Where parentheses are absent, the lyrics are in unison.

Capo 3

Though pilgrim on earth I may journey alone

| D | D | G | D |

Knowing not what the future may hold, may hold

| D | D | A7 | A7 |

I'd rather have Jesus and sing a sweet song

| D | D | G | D |

Than to covet their silver and gold

| D | A7 | D | D |

Stormy waters around me

(stormy cold waters drift all around me)

| G | G | D | D |

And the tempest and fury may roll

(tempest... roughly may roll)

| D | D | D | D |

But I have my dear Saviour

(but I still have... Jesus my saviour)

| G | G | D | D |

How he helps me nobody can know

(helps me... no one can know)

| D | D | A7 | A7 |

When it seems I'm forsaken

(Often it seems... I am forsaken)

| D | D | D | D |

And my earthly friends misunderstand

(Earthly... friends... misunderstand)

| G | G | G | G |

Stormy cold waters can drift all around me

(Stormy waters around me)

| D | D | D | D |

As I hold to god's unchanging hand

| D | A7 | D | D |

Angry billows may toss me and cause me to fear

Stormy waters around me may roll, may roll

I'll hold to the hand of my Saviour so dear

He's the shepherd that's keeping my soul

[chorus]

Though I have disappointments so often I sigh

And my cabin is humble and bare, and bare

Someday I'll inherit a mansion on high

Where the beauties of heaven I'll share

[chorus]