He rode easy in the saddle he was tall and lean

At first you thought nothing but a streak of mean

Could make a man look so downright strong

But one look in his eyes and you know what you was wrong

He was a mountain of a man and I want you to know

He could preach hot hell of freezin' snow

He carried a Bible in a canvas sack

The folks just called him the Reverend Mr Black

He was poor as a beggar but he rode like a king

And sometimes in the evening you could hear him sing



I've gotta walk that lonesome valley I've gotta walk it by myself

Oh nobody else can make it for me I've gotta walk it by myself



If ever I could have through this man in black

Was sort or had any yellow up his back

I gave that nation up the day

A lumberjack came in and it want to pray

And he kicked open that meetin' house door

He cussed everybody up and down the floor

Then when things get quiet in the place

Walked up and cussed in the preacher's face

And he hit that reverend like the kick of a mule

To my way of thinking it took a pure fool

To turn the other cheek to that lumberjack

But that's what he did the Reverend Mr Black

Wellhe stood like a rock a man among men

And he let that lumberjack hit him again

Then with a voice as kind as could be

He cut him down like a big oak tree



When he said you've gotta walk that lonesome valley

You've gotta walk it by yourself

Oh nobody else can make it for you

You've gotta walk it by yourself



It's been many years since we had to part and I guess I've learned his ways by heart

I can still hear his sermonts ring down in the valley where he used to sing

I followed his yes sir and I don't regret it and I hope that I can be of credit

To his memory for you understand the Reverend Mr Black was my old man



You've gotta walk that lonesome valley...