Lord I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know 

It's more than I can handle 

But your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones 

and I cannot let it go 


And when I'm weary and overwrought 

with so many battles left unfought 


I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard 

I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars 

And when the Saints go marching in 

I want to be one of them 


Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind 

but your word has compelled me 

when I think of all who've gone before me and lived the faithful life 


And when I'm weary and overwrought 

with so many battles left unfought 


I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard 

I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars 


I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharohs court 

I hear his call of freedom for the people of the Lord 


And when the Saints go marching in 

I want to be one of them 

And when the Saints go marching in 

I want to be one of them 


I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad 

I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul 


I see the young missionary and the end of the spear 

I see his family returning with no trace of fear 


I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights 

I see the sisters standing by the lepers side 


I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor 

I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door 


I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road 

I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load