lyrics   music by Richard Thompson

Weel I wove the rope
And I picked the spot
Well I stuck out my neck
And I tightened the knot
O stranger, stranger
It don't do to waste time
You stretch out your hand
I'll stretch out mine

Maybe just the hand of kindness
Maybe just the hand of kindness
Maybe just a hand
Stranger will you reach me in time
In time

Well I scuppered the ship
And I bent the rail
And I cut the brake
And I ripped the sail
And they called me a Jonah
It's a sin I survived
You stretch out your hand
I'll stretch out mine

Maybe just the hand of kindness
Maybe just the hand of kindness
Maybe just a hand
Stranger will you reach me in time
In time

Shoot that old horse now
Break in the new
The hung are many
And the living are few
I see your intention
Here's my neck on the line
You stretch out your hand
I'll stretch out mine

Well, maybe just the hand of kindness
Oh, maybe just the hand of kindness
Well, maybe just a hand
Stranger will you reach me in time
In time